Will Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal win back-to-back Cy Young Awards?
Nick Pollack, founder of “Pitcher List,” shares his insights on “Days of Roar” on Tarik Skubal vs. Garrett Crochet in 2025 AL Cy Young race.
MIAMI — Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, was injured in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins in the series opener at loanDepot Park on Friday, Sept. 12.
After throwing his 45th pitch, Skubal walked off the mound, grabbing his left side, and called for catcher Jake Rogers.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch jogged out of the dugout to the mound. After a short meeting, Skubal walked off the field and was replaced by right-hander Rafael Montero.
In the sixth inning Friday, the Tigers announced Skubal “exited tonight’s game after experiencing tightness in his left side and is currently under evaluation.”
Uncharacteristically, Skubal had not been sharp all night. It seemed as if something was off from the start.
Against the second batter in the Miami lineup, Skubal left a 97-mph four-seam fastball over the middle of the plate, and AgustÃn RamÃrez, a rookie catcher, hit a 404-feet homer to left. RamÃrez, who is 24 years old, has now hit 20 homers.
In the second inning, Heriberto Hernández, a 25-year-old rookie, homered to right, hammering a 98-mph sinker that Skubal left over the middle of the plate, giving Miami a 2-0 lead.
On the next pitch, Eric Wagaman, who was playing in his 149th career game, doubled to right.
On the next pitch, Skubal hit Maximo Acosta.
Then Wagaman scored on a fielder’s choice.
When the dust finally settled, the Marlins had a stunning 3-0 lead.
The Skubal injury happened after Javier Báez was injured fouling a ball off his face. Báez, too, was removed from the game.
Skubal’s importance to the Tigers cannot be overstated. He is the ace of the staff and is the favorite to win the AL Cy Young again this season.
More than anything, it was so shocking to see Skubal leave a game because he has been a model of durability. Since returning from flexor tendon surgery in July 2023, Skubal has posted a 2.35 ERA over 452â…“ innings in 74 starts.
In his previous start, on Saturday, Sept. 6, against the Chicago White Sox, Skubal won his 12th start this year in which he has pitched at least six scoreless innings, extending his franchise record for the most such starts in a season.
To put that in historical context, he is one of only two pitchers in the last 60 years to make 12 such starts in a single season, joining Adam Wainwright in 2014, according to Elias.
Skubal has a 6.5 WAR this season, per Fangraphs, the best mark of any pitcher in all of baseball and behind only three position players: New York Yankess outfielder Aaron Judge (8.3), Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (7.6) and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (6.9).
This story will be updated.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him @seideljeff. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel.