logo
Majors-best tigers end 6-game skid with all-star tarik skubal's strong start

Majors-best tigers end 6-game skid with all-star tarik skubal's strong start

Al Arabiya3 days ago
It was naturally a superb start by Tarik Skubal that resulted in a 2–1 Detroit Tigers win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday night that ended a season-worst six-game losing streak for the team with the best record in the major leagues. However, Skubal didn't get credit for the victory.
The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner and starter in Tuesday's All-Star Game cruised into the seventh inning with a two-hit shutout and a tenuous 1–0 lead. He left with runners at the corners and two outs, and the Rangers' Adolis García scored on a wild pitch by Tyler Holton. But Detroit's Matt Vierling hit a tiebreaking single with two outs in the eighth inning, and Will Vest entered in the eighth and got four straight outs–against the top four batters in Texas' order–for his 16th save for the Tigers (60–40). Skubal left the park still with 10 wins (one shy of the AL lead), 164 strikeouts (one behind Boston's Garrett Crochet), and a 2.19 ERA (tied with Crochet for the best in the American League).
'Were the first to 60, right?' That matters more (than his personal stats), Skubal said. 'We just haven't particularly been playing our best baseball, I don't think, for the last couple weeks. That's just part of the season. Not from lack of effort or anything like that. But I knew I wanted to win today. I expect every time I go out there to put our team in position to win, and we were able to do that.'
Skubal struck out 11 and walked none in his seventh double-digit strikeout game this season. His final batter was a strikeout of Jonah Heim that left him at 105 pitches, three short of his career high. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Skubal emptied his tank on the Heim at-bat and made the pitching change to avoid overworking him. 'If we're going anywhere (this season), we're going with him,' Hinch said.
Two of Texas' four hits off Skubal were by Corey Seager, the lone left-handed hitter in the starting lineup against the lefty Skubal. Seager went 2 for 3 off Skubal, improving to 8 for 12 in his career. Skubal said he asked Seager during last year's All-Star festivities: 'Bro, how do I get you out? Can you tell me?' Seager, Skubal said, politely declined and claimed not to see the ball well when hitting against him. 'When he's right, the stuff he does at the dish is the best in the league,' Skubal said.
Skubal is again among the best in baseball on the mound. He did his part in ending what was the major's longest active losing streak, even without getting a personal W.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Which team has the best chance to go from worst to first in nfl in 2025?
Which team has the best chance to go from worst to first in nfl in 2025?

Al Arabiya

timea minute ago

  • Al Arabiya

Which team has the best chance to go from worst to first in nfl in 2025?

A team going from worst to first in the division is nearly an annual occurrence in the NFL. With last-place teams getting advantages like favorable schedules and higher draft picks, there have been 25 teams since the 2002 realignment that followed up a last-place finish with a division title the following year. While no team pulled off the trick last season, it had happened least once in each of the previous four seasons. Perhaps no team is better positioned to do it this season than the San Francisco 49ers, who followed up a Super Bowl loss in the 2023 season with a 6-10 last-place finish in 2024. The Niners were done in by a string of injuries to key players and now head into the 2025 season with the weakest projected schedule thanks in part to three games against fellow last-place teams Chicago, the New York Giants, and Cleveland. Here's a look at the contenders based on their odds to finish first from BetMGM Sportsbook: San Francisco 49ers BetMGM odds to win division: +165. Reason for optimism: The 49ers still have star power with players like Fred Warner, George Kittle, Nick Bosa, Christian McCaffrey, and Trent Williams, and one of the top offensive coaches in the game in Kyle Shanahan. With the last-place schedule and a rotation that includes eight games against the weaker South divisions, the Niners are favored to win the NFC West. Reason for pessimism: San Francisco let several defensive starters leave in the offseason as part of a movement to get cheaper and younger. But if their rookie class can't step in and contribute immediately, the defense could have some holes even with the return of coordinator Robert Saleh. New England Patriots BetMGM odds to win division: +475. Reason for optimism: QB Drake Maye showed flashes as a rookie and should get a boost in Year 2 with a better coaching staff led by Mike Vrabel and coordinator Josh McDaniels. Reason for pessimism: Maye still has very little support even after the offseason acquisitions of rookie lineman Will Campbell and veteran receiver Stefon Diggs. Chicago Bears BetMGM odds to win division: +550. Reason for optimism: The Bears brought in the most highly sought after coaching candidate when Ben Johnson was hired after a strong run as offensive coordinator in Detroit. They also upgraded the interior of the offensive line by acquiring Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson in the offseason to help second-year QB Caleb Williams. Reason for pessimism: Chicago is in a division with three returning playoff teams and has one of the more difficult schedules in the NFL. If Williams struggles as a rookie – we're more about holding onto the ball too long instead of the surrounding environment – the upgrades might not be enough. Tennessee Titans BetMGM odds to win division: +800. Reason for optimism: Last year's struggles delivered Tennessee the No. 1 overall pick. QB Cam Ward brings his playmaking ability to Tennessee and should be helped by an improved offensive line following the additions of Dan Moore and Kevin Zeitler, and anticipated improvement from recent first-rounders JC Latham and Kevin Zeitler. Reason for pessimism: Ward doesn't have a strong group of pass catchers even after the signing of veteran Tyler Lockett and Tennessee hasn't done much to upgrade a defense that allowed 27.1 points per game last season. New Orleans Saints BetMGM odds to win division: +1300. Reason for optimism: The offense could get a boost if first-round tackle Kelvin Banks can step in immediately and receivers Chris Olave and Rasheed Shaheed are healthy. Reason for pessimism: New Orleans has uncertainty at quarterback after Derek Carr's retirement and is counting on either second-round rookie Tyler Shough or 2024 fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler to perform at a high enough level to compete. Las Vegas Raiders BetMGM odds to win division: +1500. Reason for optimism: Perhaps no team upgraded at quarterback and head coach as much as the Raiders with Pete Carroll replacing Antonio Pierce at coach and Geno Smith coming in at quarterback after a platoon of Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell. The offense under new coordinator Chip Kelly could be intriguing with record-setting second-year tight end Brock Bowers and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty. Reason for pessimism: Las Vegas is in a division that had three playoff teams last season making it a difficult proposition to climb too high in the standings. There are major questions in the secondary that could prove fatal in a division with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Bo Nix. New York Giants BetMGM odds to win division: +2800. Reason for optimism: The Giants should have one of the top defensive lines with No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter joining Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The return of left tackle Andrew Thomas after he missed 11 games last season should help boost the offense under new quarterback Russell Wilson. Reason for pessimism: While Wilson may be an upgrade at quarterback, his play has fallen significantly since leaving Seattle following the 2021 season. New York traded up to draft Jaxson Dart in the first round but he might not be ready to take over as a rookie on a team that still has many holes on offense. Cleveland Browns BetMGM odds to win division: +3000. Reason for optimism: The Browns feature one of the game's top defensive players in four-time All-Pro Myles Garrett after he got a new contract last season and Kevin Stefanski has won AP Coach of the Year twice in five seasons with Cleveland. Reason for pessimism: Cleveland is still searching for a QB three years after trading for Deshaun Watson. Veteran Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are all in the mix but none provide immediate hope for success.

MLS, playing without Messi, beats Liga MX 3-1 in All-Star Game
MLS, playing without Messi, beats Liga MX 3-1 in All-Star Game

Arab News

time11 hours ago

  • Arab News

MLS, playing without Messi, beats Liga MX 3-1 in All-Star Game

AUSTIN: Sam Surridge, Tai Baribo and Brian White scored goals and Major League Soccer defeated Liga MX of Mexico 3-1 in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday night playing without Lionel Messi. Messi and his Inter Miami teammate, Jordi Alba, both face possible league suspensions for their team's next match against Cincinnati on Saturday for missing the All-Star game. 'Messi's the greatest,' MLS coach Nico Estévez said. 'Playing with him and coaching him would be something amazing. But we have to show respect for the guys that showed up today. They did great. It's a special week, a unique event. Not everyone can enjoy this. I'm fortunate.' Liga MX's James Rodríguez also chose not to play in the game played in front of more than 20,000 fans at Q2 Stadium. MLS has defeated Liga MX three times in four tries. Last year Liga MX won 4-1 in Columbus, Ohio. The MLS All-Stars won in 2022 and beat Liga MX on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw a year prior. Messi has yet to appear in an MLS All-Star Game. He missed the game last year with an injury. Messi is currently tied with Nashville's Surridge for the MLS lead in goals with 18. Surridge scored another goal on Wednesday, from the middle of the box, heading in to the lower right corner a ball directed by LAFC's Denis Bouanga in the 28th minute. The opportunity developed after Bouanga had a point-blank attempt stopped by Liga MX goalkeeper Luis Malagon (Club America). Bouanga hustled to retrieve the long rebound and sent it to Surridge. Before the goal, both teams had attempts rejected with diving stops by Luis Malagón and Austin FC's Brad Stuver in the 13th and 18th minutes. MLS went ahead 2-0 in the 51st minute when Diego Rossi (Columbus) passed ahead to Baribo (Philadelphia), whose right footed shot from the center of the box made it to the lower left corner of the goal. Liga MX closed the gap to 2-1 just 13 minutes later when Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana) converted a pass from Elias Montiel (Pachuca) from the middle of the box. 'We had moments when we played good soccer,' Liga MX coach André Jardine said. Liga MX's bid to tie the match was snubbed when a shot by Diber Cambindo (Necaxa) was stopped by Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver) in the 75th minute. White (Vancouver) finished the scoring in the 80th minute. Baribo ranks fourth in MLS with 14 goals and White has scored 11 as they chase Messi and Surridge. 'They are competitive,' Estévez said. 'One scores and the other says 'I have to score.' Brian in the end said 'I have to score.' ' Up next MLS and Liga MX continue their rivalry with the Leagues Cup that begins on July 29 and concludes Aug. 31. The competition features a new format, with all 18 clubs from Liga MX and the top 18 from MLS competing. Last year all 47 clubs from the two leagues were included.

Rays option Taj Bradley to Triple-a Durham after poor start
Rays option Taj Bradley to Triple-a Durham after poor start

Al Arabiya

time11 hours ago

  • Al Arabiya

Rays option Taj Bradley to Triple-a Durham after poor start

The Tampa Bay Rays optioned right-hander Taj Bradley to Triple-A Durham following his poor start in Wednesday night's 11-9 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Once a top pitching prospect, the 24-year-old Bradley was handed a 4-0 lead after the first inning against the last-place White Sox (37-66), but he couldn't get through the second, allowing four runs, four hits, and three walks. White Sox rookie Colson Montgomery tied the score with a three-run homer off Bradley. 'Tough decision certainly, but felt like it's best for him to get down there right now,' Rays manager Kevin Cash said. 'He's got to get to work... It's probably a better environment for him to work rather than compete every single pitch. We know that Taj Bradley is massive to our success, and we need to get him back to the form that we know he's capable of.' The move, described by team officials as a strategic reset rather than a disciplinary action, comes as Bradley's performance at the major league level has been inconsistent. Through 21 starts this season, he is 6–6 with a 4.61 ERA, raising concerns about his command and mental approach. In the minors, Bradley will work to regain command of his secondary pitches, such as his changeup and slider. Meanwhile, the Rays plan to rely more heavily on pitchers such as Joe Boyle and Mason Englert to stabilize the rotation.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store