Tigers' Tarik Skubal: Comes up short in first loss
Rotowire
Skubal (6-1) took the loss Wednesday as the Tigers were downed 8-3 by the Royals, giving up four runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.
In a matchup of elite southpaws, Skubal wasn't able to keep pace with Cole Ragans and failed to complete six innings for only the second time this season in 10 starts, while tying his season high in runs allowed. Skubal also served up a solo shot to Nelson Velazquez in the fourth inning, just the fourth homer off him in 60 innings. Skubal will take a 2.25 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 72:10 K:BB into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Pirates.
Tigers' Tarik Skubal: Six shutout innings for sixth win
Rotowire
Skubal (6-0) allowed just one hit and struck out six over six shutout innings to earn the win Friday over the Diamondbacks.
The Tigers' offense was explosive Friday, but Skubal was excellent in his own right in his best outing of the campaign. This was his sixth straight quality start, as well as the fourth time he's avoided walking a batter this season. The southpaw is now at a 1.80 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 66:8 K:BB through 55 innings over nine starts. He's projected to make his next start at Kansas City.
Skubal (5-0) earned the win over Houston on Saturday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over 6.1 innings.
Skubal continued his run of excellence, recording his fifth straight quality start and picking up his fifth win without a loss on the season. The left-hander has built upon last year's breakout campaign to emerge as one of MLB's top hurlers and Detroit's undeniable staff ace. Skubal ranks seventh among qualified starters with a 2.02 ERA and fourth with a 0.86 WHIP. He's tied for fourth with 60 punchouts over 49 innings.
Skubal did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings against the Yankees. He struck out 12.
Skubal continues to dominate, as the 12 strikeouts were a season high and marked the first double-digit strikeout effort of the campaign for the ace lefty. It was the sixth time in seven games Skubal has allowed two or fewer earned runs, as the outing raised his ERA to 1.90 with a 0.77 WHIP and 53 strikeouts over 42.2 innings. He's tentatively lined up to toe the rubber next weekend when the Astros come to Detroit for a three-game set.
