Tarik Skubal is delivering a remarkable pitching performance for the Detroit Tigers, placing the team on the verge of returning to the World Series. Over recent starts, Skubal has demonstrated elite form, underscoring his key role in the Tigers’ success with a pattern few pitchers in Major League Baseball history have matched.
In his last seven outings, Skubal has allowed only seven runs on 28 hits, averaging just four hits and one run per game. His control has been exceptional, surrendering only seven walks while striking out 59 batters. This equates to a 33% strikeout rate and a mere 3.9% walk rate, resulting in an outstanding 0.71 WHIP and a .165 batting average against.
Extending the Streak: Statistical Excellence Over Fifteen Starts
Expanding the focus, Skubal’s performance across his last 15 starts is even more impressive. He has compiled a 10-0 record with a 1.74 earned run average (ERA) and a WHIP of only 0.762. During this stretch, he has struck out 128 batters while issuing just nine walks, numbers that solidify his reputation as one of baseball’s most effective pitchers this season.
On October 1, 2024, during Game One of the Wild Card Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, Skubal became the first pitcher in Detroit Tigers history to record at least 13 strikeouts while allowing no more than a single hit. This milestone is significant given the Tigers’ 125-year tenure in Major League Baseball since 1901.
Unmatched Achievements According to OptaStats
Data from OptaStats reveals Skubal has achieved an unprecedented feat: back-to-back seasons with over 100 strikeouts, an ERA of 2.50 or lower, and fewer than 20 walks allowed through 15 games each season. No other pitcher in baseball history has accomplished this combination across consecutive campaigns.
Skubal’s Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) rating, which estimates ERA based on strikeouts, walks, and home runs while removing defensive variables, is a remarkable 1.98 after 17 starts. If he maintains this level, his FIP would be the third-best since the year 2000, trailing only Corbin Burnes in 2021 and Clayton Kershaw in 2014.
Potential for MVP Recognition Amid Tough Competition
While Skubal’s numbers place him in elite company, capturing the Most Valuable Player award remains challenging. In the American League, Skubal competes with formidable offensive stars like Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh. Judge continues to have a historically strong season, while Raleigh is on pace for an extraordinary home run total.
Despite this tough competition, Skubal’s dominance positions the Detroit Tigers as serious contenders for their first World Series appearance since 2012. His performance not only exemplifies individual brilliance but also signals a broader resurgence for Detroit baseball.
“Tarik Skubal is turning opposing hitters into what amounts to pitchers hitting. And that’s just the start of it.” —Tim Warner, Photographer