Skubal didn't factor into the decision in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Mariners on Friday, giving up one earned run on two hits while striking out 13 batters across six innings. He did not issue a walk.
Outside of a second-inning double from Josh Naylor, which later resulted in a run, the Mariners were helpless to get any sort of offense going against Skubal. By striking out 13 batters Friday, the 28-year-old lefty tied the MLB record for most punchouts with no walks in a postseason game, and he became the first pitcher in MLB history to record multiple 13-strikeout performances in the same postseason. The Tigers were unable to come away with the win after 15 innings, however, so Skubal will now shift his focus to next season and is likely to repeat as one of the top fantasy performers in the sport in 2026.
Tigers' Tarik Skubal: Strikes out nine in no-decision
Rotowire
Skubal permitted two runs on five hits and one walk over seven innings in a no-decision Sunday in Seattle. He struck out nine.
Jorge Polanco proved to be Skubal's kryptonite, taking the left-hander deep with solo home runs in the fourth and sixth innings. The Mariners didn't get anything going off Skubal aside from Polanco's exploits, and the southpaw was handed a no-decision after the Tigers rallied to tie the game in the top of the eighth. Skubal has given up a total of three runs while fanning 23 batters over 14.2 frames in his two starts this postseason. He's lined up to start Game 5 of the ALDS, if the series goes the distance.
Tigers' Tarik Skubal: Fans 14 in Game 1 masterpiece
Rotowire
Skubal yielded only one run on three hits and three walks while striking out 14 over 7.2 innings to pick up the win in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Guardians.
The Guardians managed to scratch together a run in the bottom of the fourth inning despite not hitting the ball out of the infield, and Skubal also walked the light-hitting Austin Hedges twice. He was otherwise in complete control, regularly topping 100 mph with his fastball and inducing 26 swinging strikes on 107 pitches. The left-hander's 14 strikeouts tied a Tigers postseason record. If the Tigers advance to the ALDS to play the Mariners, Skubal would likely start Game 2 on Sunday.
Tigers' Tarik Skubal: Not starting regular-season finale
Rotowire
Skubal will no longer start Sunday's regular-season finale against Boston, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Skubal will get a breather after Detroit secured a playoff berth with a 2-1 win over the Red Sox on Sunday. Chris Paddack will now take the mound in Game 162 for the Tigers, allowing the team to save Skubal for the playoffs. Skubal will finish his 2025 campaign with a sparkling 2.21 ERA and 0.89 WHIP while compiling 241 strikeouts over 195.1 innings in 31 starts.
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Tigers' Tarik Skubal: May not pitch Sunday
Rotowire
Skubal is slated to start in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Red Sox, but he will only pitch if the Tigers are still playing for a playoff spot, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
"It's pretty clear. If we need Sunday to get into the playoffs, we're going to pitch [Skubal]. If we've clinched the playoff berth, then he won't pitch," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch relayed Friday. The Tigers can clinch a postseason berth as soon as Friday with a win over the Red Sox and an Astros loss to the Angels, per ESPN. Skubal has logged seven quality starts over his last eight outings and has a 2.18 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 88:17 K:BB over 74.1 innings across 12 starts since the All-Star break.
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