Tarik Skubal’s 11-Strikeout Gem Pushes Tigers to 60 Wins—and Puts Him on the Brink of a Franchise-Altering Payday
By [Your Name] | Detroit | The Athletic Style
On a steamy summer night at Comerica Park, Tarik Skubal walked off the mound to a standing ovation that felt as much like a promise for the future as it did a celebration of the present.
Skubal had just struck out his 11th batter of the night, overpowering the Texas Rangers across 6⅔ innings in a 2-1 Detroit Tigers victory that pushed them to 60 wins on the season, the first team in baseball to hit that mark in 2025. It was the kind of performance that can change the trajectory of a season—and perhaps the future of a franchise.
Because if the Tigers want to keep their ace, it’s time to pay up.
The performance that demands attention
Facing a Texas lineup that still boasts sluggers capable of flipping a game with one swing, Skubal was surgical. His fastball, living at 95-97 mph, dotted the corners with late life. His slider, a pitch that has become his signature out pitch, tied hitters up while drawing whiffs in critical counts. By the end of his outing, Skubal had generated 19 swings-and-misses while allowing just four hits and one walk.
“He was dominant, plain and simple,” manager A.J. Hinch said postgame. “Every time he takes the ball, we feel like we’re going to win. That’s the highest compliment you can give a starting pitcher.”
For Skubal, it was a performance that felt like a continuation rather than an exception. The 28-year-old left-hander has emerged as one of the best pitchers in the American League this season, with a sub-2.50 ERA, a strikeout rate among the top five in baseball, and an uncanny ability to pitch deep into games while preserving the bullpen.
“It’s just about staying aggressive and executing,” Skubal said, downplaying his dominance. “I trust my stuff, and I trust the guys behind me.”
A team with belief—and pressure
The win over Texas gave the Tigers their 60th win before the All-Star break, a milestone that signals just how far this team has come in its rebuild. From a perennial bottom-dweller to a legitimate AL contender, Detroit has leaned heavily on a pitching staff that, even without Gerrit Cole and Max Fried for stretches, has held firm because of Skubal’s consistency.
The lineup, boosted by Riley Greene’s breakout and Spencer Torkelson’s timely power, has done enough. But make no mistake: the Tigers’ rise has been driven by Skubal’s emergence as a true ace.
“He’s the anchor,” catcher Jake Rogers said. “You can feel it every fifth day. It sets the tone for the rest of us.”
But as Skubal’s value rises, so does the pressure on the front office to lock him in before he gets closer to free agency.
A looming payday
League sources say the Tigers have begun preliminary discussions with Skubal’s representatives about a long-term extension that could exceed $150 million, potentially the largest contract handed out by the franchise since Miguel Cabrera’s megadeal. The belief inside the organization is clear: if Detroit is to remain a contender in a competitive AL landscape, keeping Skubal is non-negotiable.
“He’s the kind of player you build around,” one AL executive told ESPN. “He’s a top-10 pitcher in the game right now. You don’t let those guys walk.”
For Skubal, who has maintained a quiet focus throughout the year, the looming extension talks haven’t been a distraction, according to teammates. But the reality of the business side of baseball is unavoidable, and fans are already buzzing about whether the Tigers will step up to secure their ace.
More than numbers
Skubal’s journey to this point has been anything but easy. A ninth-round draft pick out of Seattle University, he overcame Tommy John surgery in college, climbed the minors without much fanfare, and steadily improved with each opportunity. His work ethic, noted by teammates and coaches alike, has been matched by a competitive fire that shows up every time he takes the mound.
In a season where the Tigers’ identity has shifted from rebuilding to contending, Skubal’s dominance has come to symbolize what this team wants to be: relentless, focused, and ready for the big stage.
“Tarik’s one of those guys who holds everyone accountable, just by how he prepares and competes,” Hinch said. “That’s invaluable in a clubhouse.”
A defining stretch ahead
As the Tigers eye the postseason, Skubal will be the pitcher they lean on most. His ability to dominate, to handle high-leverage situations, and to lead by example will be critical as Detroit looks to not just make the playoffs but to advance deep into October.
But the bigger question for the Tigers is what comes after this season—and whether Skubal will remain the face of their pitching staff for years to come.
On a night when Skubal walked off the mound to cheers echoing across Comerica Park, the fans knew what they were witnessing: the best pitcher in a Tigers uniform since Justin Verlander, and a player capable of leading them into a new era of contention.
And if the Tigers are wise, they’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that this is just the beginning of Tarik Skubal’s reign in Detroit.