Latest news with #TarikSkubal
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fans upset as Tarik Skubal vs. Paul Skenes duel gets shut down
The post Fans upset as Tarik Skubal vs. Paul Skenes duel gets shut down appeared first on ClutchPoints. Rain pummeled the Midwest on Wednesday and cancelled numerous Major League Baseball games in the region. One of them was set to go down in Detroit as Tarik Skubal was going to lead the Detroit Tigers against the Pittsburgh Pirates. A postponed game is always a bummer, but that set up a double header on Thursday which opened the door for a potential Skubal vs. Paul Skenes showdown. The two Cy Young favorites are pitching on the same day, but not in the same game. Advertisement Paul Skenes was slated to start Game 3 of the series for the Pirates, so the original schedule had him missing a duel with Tarik Skubal by one day. When Wednesday's game got postponed, fans started clamoring about the possibility of the two best pitchers in the game going up against each other. It would've been incredible to see, but the teams aren't changing the pitching matchup. Skubal will start Game 1 for the Tigers, and Skenes will start Game 2 for the Pirates. Fans got their hopes up after Wednesday's game got rained out as there was hope for an incredible pitching matchup. A lot of people thought that the teams were going to give the people what they wanted. Unfortunately, that isn't the case, and now fans are upset about what could've been. The game of baseball is always looking for ways to grow the sport, and this would've been a golden opportunity for exposure. Who wouldn't want to watch a Skubal vs. Skenes showdown? 'crazy how big of a miss this is for the sport,' one fan posted. Advertisement We still to get see both players pitch on the same day, but it would be a lot more fun if it was in the same game. 'What an unfun decision,' another fan said. At the end of the day, this is in the best interest of both of these teams. Each team has a big advantage when one of these pitchers is on the mound, and it's hard for either of them to lose those games. Taking the better matchup means a probable victory. 'The fans need to understand it's in neither teams best interest to line their starts up,' another fan said. 'They'd rather take the massive advantage in one game and get that win.' The Tigers are one of the best teams in baseball, and the Pirates are one of the worst. With Skubal on the mound going up against someone other than Skenes, Detroit will be a big favorite. Advertisement 'For people crying, this is good… I want Skub by himself… We need to win each of his starts and going against Skenes would possibly hurt that… get over it,' a fan wrote. Tarik Skubal will take the mound in Game 1 of the double header at 1:10 ET from Comerica Park in Detroit. Game 2 of the double header will get underway at 5:40 PM, and Paul Skenes will be on the mound for the Pirates. Related: Tigers' Javy Báez doubles down with 2 home runs against the Pirates Related: 3 Detroit Tigers who must make 2025 All-Star Team
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phillies' Ranger Suárez Joins Tigers' Tarik Skubal as Only Pitchers With Four Straight Seven-Inning Outings in 2025
Phillies' Ranger Suárez Joins Tigers' Tarik Skubal as Only Pitchers With Four Straight Seven-Inning Outings in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Phillies are blessed with incredible starting pitching. But, recently, no one has been more impressive than Ranger Suárez in his contract year. He's been dominant on the mound this year, and he's one of only two pitchers to achieve an incredible feat this season. Advertisement According to an article from Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Suárez joins Detroit Tigers 2024 Cy-Young award winner Tarik Skubal as the only pitchers in 2025 to have four straight starts that went at least seven innings. With Skubal the front-runner to win the Cy Young in the AL in 2025, Suárez joining him is an indication of how great he's been this season. Suárez, in his last four starts that went at least seven innings each, has a 1.26 ERA and 26 strikeouts. While his seven-inning minimum stretch ends at four games, he's been incredible after his first start of the year. Suárez, in his last nine starts, has a 1.17 ERA, 53 strikeouts, and a 6-2 record. He's also pitched 61.1 innings and has a quality start in every outing. Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) looks on before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Ross-Imagn Images On the year, even with his seven-earned run blowup start to begin his season, Suárez has a 2.08 ERA and 59 strikeouts. Suárez, in his eighth season with the Phillies, is once again making the case to be an All-Star. Advertisement Before his latest masterpiece, where he went 7.2 innings, giving up one run, but getting dealt the loss due to his offense's struggles, Suárez had 2.4 WAR. That's on pace to smash his 2024 total when he was named an All-Star. Suárez has been the most impressive Phillies pitcher this season, which is a remarkable feat considering Zack Wheeler has an incredible 2.61 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 15 starts. Joining Skubal, who's having one of the best pitching seasons in modern baseball history, is a great feat for Suárez. Going at least seven innings is difficult, and Suárez has done so four times in a row, and has given up just four earned runs total. Related: Phillies' Dave Dombrowski Reveals Philadelphia's Trade Deadline Plans Related: Phillies' Jose Alvarado Expected to Make Impact After 80-Game PED Suspension This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
18 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
How to watch this weekend's Twins at Tigers series, with Tarik Skubal on ‘Sunday Night Baseball'
Entering Friday action, two teams are tied for the best record in baseball. The NL leader is not surprising to anyone — the Los Angeles Dodgers employ four former MVPs and an all-around stacked lineup. From the AL, though … we're all friends with Paws the Tiger now. The swaggering Detroit Tigers host an increasingly desperate Minnesota Twins squad for a three-game weekend tangle. Rocco Baldelli's club is scrambling to end its nightmare month with something positive, and the visitors will have to face reigning Triple Crown pitcher Tarik Skubal on 'Sunday Night Baseball.' 'Sunday Night Baseball' can also be streamed on ESPN+. Minnesota went 18-8 in May, yet the team starts this series just 8-16 in June. The Twins are also struggling on the road, arriving at 17-25 despite a mere minus-2 run differential. All this amid Byron Buxton's most active season since 2017. The slugging center fielder has never hit more than 28 home runs in a season, due to a terribly misfortunate injury history. But he's played in 64 of his team's first 81 games, and is on pace for 34 homers and 96 RBIs. Advertisement At the midway mark, the Twins have scored a solid 4.28 runs per game on a .314 OBP (league averages are 4.34 and .315, respectively). The bullpen has been an issue, though, and the rotation is stretched thin with ace Pablo López on ice until at least August. Saturday's starter Bailey Ober has been absolutely destroyed by the long ball — three homers allowed in last outing's implosion versus the Seattle Mariners, and four during a June 12 meltdown to the Texas Rangers. Both of those starts were at home. Yikes. Less than one year ago, Detroit looked thoroughly unremarkable as sub-.500 trade deadline sellers. Last year's exhilarating playoff push was an all-out stunner, yet it may be remembered as the prelude to this current stretch of Tigers dominance. Under A.J. Hinch, Detroit is in line for its best record of the 21st century and on pace to reach 100 wins — the high-water mark of the Miguel Cabrera era was 95-67. Javier Báez has magically fought back from the brink of career extinction. Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and Dillon Dingler are young hitters with big barrels. Zach McKinstry is electrifying around the bases and leads the AL with eight triples. Above all, Skubal is possessed by some flame-throwing baseball aeon, whittling his ERA down to 2.29 in 16 starts. He's in the 100 percentile for pitching run value, 99 for walk rate and 96 for exit velocity. The vibes are spectacular in a place we now know as 'Skubaltown' — less a physical municipality, more a state of being. Not for nothing, Saturday's probable Casey Mize has a sub-3 ERA and a strong 7-2 record. His slurve is downright filthy: Casey Mize, Knee Buckling 82mph Slurve. 🦵 — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 5, 2025 Fusion lineup (best players to wear both jerseys, since 2000): Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Tarik Skubal: Greg Fiume / Getty Images)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dietrich Enns, 34, pitches 1st MLB game since 2021 in Tigers' 8-0 win over Athletics
The Detroit Tigers (51-31) maintained at least a tie for the best record in Major League Baseball with an 8-0 win over the Athletics on Thursday. A big reason for Detroit's success this season is that the team is getting meaningful contributions throughout the lineup, not just relying on star players. (Though the Tigers have one in reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.) Advertisement Thursday's win provided an excellent example of that with Dietrich Enns getting the start for the Tigers and earning the win with five scoreless innings. He allowed one hit with two walks and four strikeouts. Detroit provided an early 3-0 lead for Enns with a first-inning homer from Spencer Torkelson and a two-run double by Jahmai Jones against Athletics starter Jeffrey Springs. The Tigers later added to their lead with a two-run shot in the seventh from Gleyber Torres, followed by a two-run triple by Zach McKinstry and sacrifice fly from Jake Rogers in the eighth. Enns, 34, hadn't pitched in the majors since September 2021 with the Tampa Bay Rays. For the past four years, he played in Japan and Korea. The Tigers signed him to a minor-league deal in January and he made 14 starts in Triple-A, compiling a 2.89 ERA, 71 strikeouts in 62 1/3 innings and a 2-2 record. "I'm proud of him for the journey,' Tigers manager AJ Hinch said afterward. 'He's been around the world and worked his way back." 'He's not just doing the same thing over and over again, hoping for a new opportunity," Hinch added. "He refined his changeup. He's learned count leverage a little better. His arsenal has shifted. Adjustments don't mean a complete overhaul. It just means subtle tweaks and the performance followed." Advertisement Enns was originally selected in the 19th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees. After seven years in the Yankees organization, he also played in the Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres systems. Interestingly, Enns' first two major-league wins before Thursday both came against the Tigers, five days apart in 2021.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tarik Skubal gives up early homers, but Detroit Tigers back him up in 11-4 win vs Athletics
Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal allowed two home runs in a game for the fifth time in the past three seasons, spanning 62 starts. He was rocked for a two-run homer in both the first and second innings, but he didn't crumble from there. Instead, Skubal battled to complete six innings. Advertisement The 28-year-old put zeros on the scoreboard in his final four innings, leading the Tigers to an 11-4 win over the Athletics on Tuesday, June 24, in the first of three games in the series at Comerica Park. The offense picked him up by scoring seven runs in the first three innings, including Kerry Carpenter's two-run home run ending a 17-game homer drought. With the victory, the Tigers (50-30) became MLB's first team to 50 wins in the 2025 season. STOCK WATCH: Riley Greene continues to rise, but Kerry Carpenter is falling Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches in the first inning against the Athletics at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Celebrate 125 seasons of the Tigers with our new book! The first inning began on a sour note. Advertisement Skubal walked leadoff hitter Jacob Wilson on five pitches — Skubal's 13th walk in 365 batters faced this season, but his sixth walk in three starts. The A's immediately made him pay for that mistake, as Brent Rooker — one of the few MLB hitters who gives Skubal problems — demolished a middle-middle 96 mph fastball for a two-run home run to left field. He hit the ball 415 feet with a 110 mph exit velocity. In seven games, Rooker is hitting .471 (8-for-17) with three home runs across 18 plate appearances against Skubal. The second inning wasn't any better. With two outs, Tyler Soderstrom kept the inning alive by singling off Skubal's first-pitch sinker. The next batter, Denzel Clarke, hit a first-pitch changeup for a two-run home run to center field. The shocker: Clarke is hitting just .207 with two home runs in 28 games. Advertisement The homers put the A's ahead 2-0 in the first, then 4-2 in the second. But the Tigers fought back. And Skubal locked in. The reigning American League Cy Young winner allowed four runs on six hits and one walk with eight strikeouts across six innings, throwing 97 pitches. Skubal owns a 2.29 ERA in 16 starts. [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] PURR-FECT GAME: Detroit Tigers at 2025 MLB trade deadline: 10 potential targets First AL team to 400 runs The Tigers became the first AL team to reach 400 runs when Wenceel Pérez crossed the plate for the second and final run in the seventh inning. Advertisement Detroit had 391 runs entering Tuesday's game, to finish with 402. Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) celebrates with outfielder Zach McKinstry (39) and outfielder Wenceel Perez (46) after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Athletics at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. The scoring started in the first inning, when a slumping Carpenter refused to chase three pitches outside the strike zone for a 3-0 count against right-hander Luis Severino. He then crushed a middle-middle 95 mph fastball for a two-run home run. It was Carpenter's first homer since his three-homer game June 2. In the third inning, the Tigers scored five runs to take a 7-4 lead over the Athletics. A single from Gleyber Torres and a double from Riley Greene set the table for Pérez, who drove in both runners with a double. Pérez collected two hits in his 23rd game this season, bringing him to a .307 average with a 1.007 OPS. Dillon Dingler added a three-run home run to cap the five-run third inning. Advertisement The Tigers didn't score again until the seventh inning. The offense put up three singles in a row with two outs against left-handed reliever Hogan Harris, courtesy of Greene, Pérez and Zach McKinstry. On McKinstry's single, third-base coach Joey Cora made an aggressive decision to try to score Greene from second base. Greene should've been out easily, but the Athletics' catcher let the ball skip past his glove — going all the way to the backstop. Not only did Greene score, but Pérez scored from first base for a 9-4 advantage (and the Tigers' 400th run of the season). Less than 10 minutes later, the New York Yankees scored their 400th run of the season in the 11th inning against the Cincinnati Reds. Additionally, three National League teams already reached 400 runs: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Tigers tacked on two runs in the eighth inning for an 11-4 lead with Greene's two-run single. Greene, who finished 4-for-5, is hitting .299 with an .890 OPS in 78 games. Wenceel Pérez in right field Not only did Pérez contribute on offense, but he also contributed on defense in the seventh inning — all the way out in right field. He made two outfield assists for the first two outs in the seventh, with shortstop Javier Báez on the receiving end. Advertisement The plays happened with right-handed reliever Chase Lee on the mound. Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) celebrates with outfielder Zach McKinstry (39) and outfielder Wenceel Perez (46) after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Athletics at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. The first play: Soderstrom hit a leadoff single that landed on the warning track, ricochetted off the wall and ended up in Pérez's glove. From there, Pérez threw a one-hopper to Báez, ahead of Soderstrom's head-first slide into second base. The second play: Jacob Wilson hit a single that landed in right field, with Pérez fielding the ball, spinning toward the foul line and firing another one-hopper to Báez, ahead of Wilson's feet-first slide into second base. The A's had three singles in a row in the seventh but did not score, thanks to Pérez. Advertisement Entering Tuesday, Pérez had just one outfield assist in his two-year MLB career, spanning 1,020⅔ innings: 759⅓ innings in right field, 232⅓ innings in center and 29 innings in left. Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers thump Athletics, 11-4, after early home runs
