The Detroit Tigers have been fortunate to feature some elite pitchers throughout their history — from Jack Morris to Justin Verlander — but right now, it’s Tarik Skubal who’s taking center stage. Calling his current performance dominant might even be an understatement.
Skubal’s rise has been years in the making. Drafted by the Tigers in the ninth round of the 2018 MLB Draft as the 255th overall pick, the left-hander made his debut in 2020. Since then, he’s become such a vital part of the team that it’s hard to imagine the Tigers without him.
Before reaching the majors, Skubal starred at Seattle University, where he carved out a historic college career. He still holds the program’s record for wins and left as the highest MLB draft pick in school history. According to Seattle University, Skubal also posted the lowest ERA (2.11) and opponent batting average (.221) for a starter, and ranks second in career strikeouts with 224. In recognition of his collegiate excellence, he was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2024.
Simply put, Skubal has earned his place among baseball’s rising stars — and he’s finally getting the spotlight he deserves.
MLB Gives Props to Tarik Skubal
Tarik Skubal continued his dominant stretch on Sunday, July 6, against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, extending a remarkable unbeaten run that dates back to early April. The left-hander was electric once again, tossing seven shutout innings, striking out 10, and helping lead the Tigers to a commanding 7-2 win on the road.
During the game, MLB announced that Skubal had made history with his recent run of excellence. “Tarik Skubal has FIVE scoreless outings in his last eight starts (1.12 ERA),” the league posted on X, which the Tigers enthusiastically retweeted, along with their own praise. Fans chimed in, with one posting, “Wow nice outing so far,” and another boldly claiming, “Wheels and Skubal are your CY Young winners — book it.”
Skubal’s performance that day—seven innings, three hits, no runs, no walks, and 10 strikeouts—earned him a spot in rarefied air. He became just the fourth left-handed pitcher in MLB history to record at least three starts in a single season with no runs, no walks, and 10 or more strikeouts. The only others to achieve that feat? Sandy Koufax (1965), Randy Johnson (2004), and Clayton Kershaw (2015). That’s elite company for one of the league’s hottest arms.
Tiger Pitcher Gets Rave Reviews
A post by “Nugget Chef” on X sharing Skubal’s historic outing sparked plenty of conversation among baseball fans. One commenter reflected on another legendary lefty, saying, “Steve Carlton’s 1972 season is the high-water mark for me when it comes to southpaws — he won 27 games for a team that only won 59 and threw 30 complete games. Skubal’s current season is amazing.” Another fan pointed out a familiar frustration: “The problem is he has the Felix Hernandez treatment going on – an offense that is immune to scoring runs to help him.”
Despite the lack of consistent run support, Skubal continues to shine. In 2024, he put together a dominant campaign that earned him AL All-Star honors, the MLB Players Choice Award for AL Outstanding Pitcher, the AL pitching triple crown, and a unanimous AL Cy Young Award. Now, in 2025, he’s making a strong case to repeat that success. For the Tigers, it’s a perfect fit — a frontline ace anchoring their rotation and turning heads across the league.
