The 2024 American League Cy Young winner and the star of the Detroit Tigers, Tarik Skubal, is known for his pinpoint control and stone steady nerves even in the most tense situations. But what helps the left-hander shrug off his jitters and feel “awake” on the field?
In a recent interview on the Pardon My Take podcast, released on June 11, 2025, Skubal pulled back the curtain on his game-day rituals and the adrenaline rush that helps him lock in for the game.
Tarik Skubal’s Caffeinated Game-Day Ritual Helps Him Feel “Awake” On The Field
While some pitchers lean on superstition and perform their “lucky” rituals before each game, Skubal’s routine is very practical. “On days I’m pitching, I’m pretty relaxed,” he said. “I like to enjoy it and have fun.” In the interview, he reveals that the secret behind this relaxed demeanor and complete focus on the pitching is a dose of whopping three shots of espresso.
“That’s my dosage to know I’m awake,” he shared. The caffeine kickstarts a process that peaks about 75 minutes before game time, helping his nerves sharpen and focus on the game. However, even after taking such a heavy dose of caffeine, Skubal doesn’t feel wobbly, as he explains, “you don’t get shaky, but you’re ready to go.”
As he plays catch before the match and feels the ball leave his hand, the intensity builds on his nerves, steadying it in the process. As the caffeine sets in and his nerves couldn’t be more pumped for action, the national anthem works as his final trigger, completely locking him in for the game. “Once I hear the anthem, it’s like, okay, I am ready to go,” Skubal said.
While we don’t know how effective this ritual will be for the average person, for Skubal, it has worked wonders so far. In 2025, he posted a sparkling 2.16 ERA across 83⅓ innings in 13 starts, with 105 strikeouts and just seven walks.
His shutout against the Cleveland Guardians, where his 94-pitch masterpiece resulted in a 5-0 win, stands as one of the season’s finest performances. Being one of the best pitchers in the country right now, Skubal is the anchor of a Tigers team featuring MLB’s best record at 44-24. Many analysts believe Tiger needs to secure his future on the team if they hope to keep climbing the charts.
As Skubal continues to impress with his plays, his rituals offer a glimpse into the mind of an elite athlete. With the Tigers surging and their ace in peak form, Detroit fans have reason to dream big. However, will he be able to lead the Tigers to their first World Series since 1984? Nothing can be said for sure right now, but we have high hopes.