Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal solidified his status as one of Major League Baseball’s premier pitchers by delivering an extraordinary series of road starts in 2025. Building on his landmark 2024 season, which earned him the American League Cy Young Award and the pitching triple crown, Skubal has raised the bar by striking out at least ten batters while issuing zero walks in three consecutive road games. This remarkable feat places him alongside only one other modern-era pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, highlighting Skubal’s growing dominance on the mound away from home.
Exceptional Road Start Streak Matches Clayton Kershaw’s Modern Era Record
Skubal’s streak of three straight road starts featuring at least ten strikeouts and no walks began on July 6 against the Cleveland Guardians. In that outing, he pitched seven shutout innings, striking out ten batters without allowing a single walk. Following that, he maintained his control and power in an outing at Texas, delivering 6.2 innings with 11 strikeouts and zero walks, allowing only one earned run. Most recently, on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies, Skubal once again demonstrated his elite ability by pitching seven strong innings with ten strikeouts and no walks, conceding three earned runs.
According to OptaSTATS, no other pitcher in the modern MLB era besides Clayton Kershaw—who achieved the mark in 2016—has replicated this combination of 10+ strikeouts and zero walks across three consecutive road starts. This places Skubal in truly rare company as he establishes his road dominance for the Detroit Tigers.
Last 3 road starts for the @tigers’ Tarik Skubal:10 strikeouts, 0 walks (at Cle)11 strikeouts, 0 walks (at Tex)10 strikeouts, 0 walks (at Phi)Only one other MLB pitcher in the modern era has had 10+ strikeouts & no walks in 3 consecutive road starts: Clayton Kershaw (2016). pic.twitter.com/1T56XHEsYu
—OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS)
Skubal’s Precision and Power Describe His Pitching Mastery
Skubal’s combination of accuracy and dominant pitching repertoire sets him apart in the current baseball landscape. After struggling with health earlier in his career, he remained consistently healthy throughout his Cy Young-winning season in 2024, which he has built on impressively this year. His command on the mound is reflected in his outstanding strikeout-to-walk ratio, currently leading MLB with a 9.00 SO/BB. He has struck out 181 batters while giving up only 19 walks in the season so far.
Additional advanced metrics underline his exceptional performance: a walk rate of 1.3 per nine innings, a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 0.838, and a FIP (fielding independent pitching) of 1.93. He leads the American League in WAR (wins above replacement) at 5.5, sports a winning percentage of .769, maintains an ERA of 2.09, and an ERA+ of 197, all indicative of his elite effectiveness and consistency.
Implications for Detroit Tigers and Skubal’s Future Outlook
While the Detroit Tigers have experienced some inconsistent team results recently, Skubal’s pitching excellence has kept them competitive, especially during critical road games. His ability to shut down opposing lineups and avoid free passes dramatically increases Detroit’s chances of winning, making him an invaluable asset for the team’s aspirations this season.
As the 2025 campaign progresses, Skubal appears poised to continue rewriting pitching records and positioning himself for further accolades. His unique road pitching success, when combined with his proven resilience and skill development, represents a significant advantage for the Detroit Tigers in their quest for postseason contention.