The Detroit Tigers have made an interesting but understandable move.
The team is scratching 2024 American League Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal from his start against the Chicago White Sox in favor of pitching him versus the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
Skubal was supposed to pitch the last game of a four-game series with the White Sox on Thursday, but according to White Sox beat writer for MLB.com Scott Merkin, Skubal will now pitch the opener against the Cubs.
This move makes sense for the Tigers as Skubal will get a great test against one of the best offenses in baseball.
This will be a great test for the Cubs as well, getting to face one of, if not the best pitcher in baseball in the middle of the season.
Detroit’s 39-21 record is the best in Major League Baseball, making this one of the most anticipated series so far this season.
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Skubal, 28, has been one of the best pitchers in MLB since 2022 and has had a sub-3 ERA over the past two seasons.
Last season, Skubal dominated the league and went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 31 starts, leading the team to the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
This season, Skubal is potentially on his way to another Cy Young award. In 12 starts, the lefty ace is 5-2 with a 2.26 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP. He is third in MLB with 99 strikeouts.
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