Cy Young front runner Tarik Skubal has shortest start of the season against Angels

DETROIT, MICH- The Angels faced a hard challenge to kick off their road trip in Detroit, facing Tigers ace and Cy Young front-runner Tarik Skubal. Skubal has been the talk of the American League in 2025, dominating hitters in nearly every appearance he faced. 

His stat sheet is a laundry list of dominance. He leads the AL in both WHIP and strikeouts while being second behind only Boston’s Garret Crochet in ERA and third in the AL in batting average against. Skubal has been the face of a Detroit Tigers squad that commands a healthy first-place position in the AL Central and faced with the up-and-down Angels that are fighting for a Wild Card spot by season’s end, Skubal looked poised for success. 

The first inning began well enough. Skubal kicked off the game with a strikeout of lead off batter Zach Neto on the way to a 1-2-3 inning. It was in the second that cracks in Skubal’s armor began to appear. 

A wild pitch by Skubal advanced Angels second baseman Luis Rengifo to second base then Skubal allowed a double down the left field line by the struggling catcher Logan O’Hoppe for the Angels first run of the game. 

Going through to the fifth inning Skubal looked restored. He was working with the benefit of a 3-1 lead and made it through the third and the fourth with three strikeouts and one hit allowed. He faltered again after walking second baseman Christian Moore and subsequently lost the Detroit lead giving up back-to-back home runs to the Angels number nine hitter Gustavo Campero and Neto. Skubal was shaken and found a home for his frustration in the home plate umpire while facing designated hitter Mike Trout.

Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gustavo Campero (51) rounds the bases after hitting a home run off Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (not pictured) in the fifth inning at Comerica Park.

Trout’s at-bat was defined by a controversial ball call on a pitch that graced the inside-bottom corner of the strike zone yet was not called. The pitch would have been strike three, and with the next pitch Trout tapped a weak ground ball to second base for an infield single. 

Skubal notably stayed close to the mound and did not attempt to field the roller and appeared to begin jawing with the home plate umpire Tom Hanahan. 

Trout’s hit spelled the end of the day for Skubal and he was relieved by Detroit pitcher Troy Melton after just 4.2 innings of work. It was Skubal’s shortest start of the season and his shortest since a four inning outing against the Atlanta Braves on June 19, 2024. 

Despite his struggles, Skubal’s Tiger teammates picked up their and spared him from a loss with a three-run eight inning to regain the lead and eventually triumph over the Angels 6-5. That overtaking eighth inning for Detroit was defined by back-to-back walks by Angels reliever Reid Detmers that culminated in a three-run pinch-hit home run by Matt Vierling, his first home run of the season, to score the game winning runs.