Detroit Tigers star Tarik Skubal didn’t feel like himself early Thursday night. His command wavered, his rhythm felt off, and the hot, muggy air in Camden Yards didn’t help. Yet when he walked off the mound after seven scoreless innings, fists clenched and letting out a roar following his final strikeout, Skubal had done more than dominate—he had battled through adversity, and that’s what mattered most.
The Tigers’ 4-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles was another statement outing for the left-hander, whose recent run of form is drawing historical comparisons. His ability to lock in after a shaky start echoed a mindset once embodied by Max Scherzer, who insisted his final pitches be his sharpest. Whether consciously or not, Skubal followed that blueprint, saving his nastiest stuff for the seventh inning.
“I was kind of fighting myself a little bit early,” Skubal said after the game, according to MLB.com. “As the game wore on, I felt like I got better. That’s probably what I’m the most proud of.”
Late surge elevates another dominant Skubal outing
The seventh began with a rare blemish—Skubal’s first multi-walk outing since April 2. He issued a free pass to Ramon Laureano, and the Baltimore crowd stirred. But what followed was a textbook sequence of power and precision: a fastball at 96.5 mph on the edge, a slider in the zone, and a diving changeup that froze Ramon Uriasfor strike three.
Moments later, Skubal went right after Jackson Holliday and Coby Mayo, reaching 98 mph twice with sinkers and finishing his outing with a punchout that left Mayo swinging through air. “Sometimes you’re on from pitch one, and sometimes it takes a little bit,” he added. “I’m probably more proud of grinding it out in those types of performances.”
The numbers support his sentiment. Skubal’s ERA has now dipped below 2.20, and he’s struck out 34 while walking just three over his last five starts. His ability to miss bats while keeping hitters guessing with a deadly fastball-changeup combo has positioned him among the league’s most effective starters.
Tigers lean on Skubal’s stability amid season grind
As the Tigers push through the middle of the MLB season, Skubal is becoming their anchor. Even on nights when his command falters, he finds a way to reset and overpower. His maturity showed against Baltimore, not only in the stat line but in his postgame perspective.
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The Tigers will look to carry the momentum of Skubal’s gem into the weekend, but the lefty’s biggest takeaway wasn’t about dominance—it was about discipline and grit.