All across the league, teams shudder at the sight of the latest pitching phenom taking the mound when battling the Detroit Tigers. Tarik Skubal has made quite an impression on his team and those all across Major League Baseball. He is at the top of most categories among pitchers in the league and continues to improve those numbers with each appearance.
Skubal has had strong showings versus powerhouse teams, proving to be a tough obstacle towards victory for many. Since having an All-Star caliber performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, he is making a strong case to be the American League starter in the 2024 All-Star game.
Can Skubal continue this pace heading into the second half of the season?
Skubal Success VS. Los Angeles
On Friday, the Detroit pitcher was almost unhittable as he started against the Dodgers. Allowing just three baserunners, he tossed six innings of two-hit ball. Skubal worked to get ahead on the Dodgers lineup and make quick outs where he could.
Going into the game, the Dodgers dropped their last four. Even though their hitters have not been hot, they were still the best lineup in Major League Baseball against lefty pitchers. Skubal used an arsenal of five pitches during his outing, however, he mainly relied on his three best: four-seam fastball, sinker and changeup.
With his fastball hitting triple digits and the others throwing them off kilter, Skubal recorded a total of eight strikeouts versus Los Angeles. He allowed two earned runs and one walk during his outing. The two runs came in the fourth inning, one off of a solo homer from All-Star, Freddie Freeman, and a two-out knock from Andy Pages that scored Teoscar Hernández.
The impressive outing from the 28-year-old could be another determining factor advocating for a start in the 2024 mid-summer classic.
Schooling the Competition
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2024 has been the best year yet for this pitcher. Making his debut in 2020, he has really come into his own this season. As of now, Skubal is in second place among all pitchers in the MLB for ERA. He is harboring an ERA of 2.41, just behind the Atlants Braves’ Reynaldo López whose ERA is at 1.88. In the last seven days, Skubal’s ERA is at 2.08.
Along with a staggeringly low ERA, he has registered a WHIP of 0.88 while recording just 21 walks. His command on the mound has improved greatly throughout his career. In comparison to innings pitched and walks recorded, the number is significantly lower this year than in 2023. In the process, his strikeout numbers have made a staggering jump as a result.
Heading towards the second half of the season with a record of 10-3, Skubal is favored at the top to win the American League Cy Young award. With his performance and command on the mound versus any and all teams, this Southpaw has made an impact that will not be overlooked.
Detroit On a Tear
As a team that has struggled for years, Detroit has seemed to heat up as of late. In their last 10 games, they have a record of 7-3. They are well above the disappointing White Sox and are gaining on their next closest opponent, the Kansas City Royals.
Coming off of an exciting extra-innings win last night, the Tigers are hoping to head into the All-Star break on a positive note and take the series from the Dodgers.
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