Tarik Skubal is the epitome of domination in Major League Baseball, and that much is clear this season. In addition to delivering another masterpiece, the Detroit Tigers star may be setting the standard even higher after his 2024 AL Cy Young season. With his 7-2 record, 1.99 ERA, and league-second 0.81 WHIP, Skubal isn’t just in the running for Cy Young; he may be in the lead now.
Skubal Dominating, Building Case For CY Young
His most recent outing only added to the mythos. In a statement performance against the Baltimore Orioles, Skubal delivered seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out six. His presence on the mound is commanding, and the reactions around the league are beginning to reflect that.
Fellow Tigers starter Jack Flaherty made sure to highlight Skubal’s dominance, praising the lefty on Instagram for once again putting together a performance that left hitters guessing and fans in awe. Even while the numbers are astounding, there is more to it than that.
Tarik Skubal lowers his ERA to 1.99 on the season after another terrific outing đź’Ş pic.twitter.com/BFRfxZRbGW
— MLB (@MLB) June 13, 2025
Skubal’s command has been almost surgical, and he is fourth in the league with 111 strikeouts. He has only walked five hitters in his last 12 outings. His combination of strength, accuracy, and composure has served as the cornerstone of the Tigers’ current 45-25 record, which is the best in the American League. Detroit is prominent in the race to October and isn’t sneaking up on anyone anymore, sitting over 20 games above .500.
Heart of a Team Looking To Win Now
More than just a front-line starter, Skubal is now the lifeblood of a Tigers squad that thinks it can win right now. His every start boosts the team’s confidence. He is changing the expectations for starting pitchers with his ability to dominate late in games, including reaching 101.7 mph in the seventh inning or later.
Now that the parallel to Justin Verlander is statistical, it is no longer purely speculation. Skubal and Verlander are the only pitchers in the past 20 years to throw with such force so far into games. The Tigers have responded, too; behind Skubal, the rotation has stayed consistent, Detroit’s offense has delivered in clutch situations, and the clubhouse has a noticeable advantage.
Postseason contenders are aware that this is the type of chemistry they are built on. This isn’t an anomaly; this group was assembled for October. Skubal is at the core of the Tigers’ ten-year rebuild, which has evolved into a possible World Series run. Detroit is currently not just the best in the AL thanks to his ongoing dominance, but they might also be the front-runners to represent the league on the grandest platform in baseball.