There's an intriguing backup option for clubs chasing Skubal at the Deadline

Tarik Skubal will be the most prominent player talked about leading up to the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.

For many teams that potentially miss out on Skubal -- or aren’t willing to meet Detroit’s likely high asking price -- there are several other intriguing pitchers who could be on the move. In terms of left-hander starters, one pitcher to monitor is the Angels’ Reid Detmers.

After strictly pitching out of the Angels bullpen last season, Detmers has successfully transitioned back to the rotation this year, posting a 4.26 ERA with 88 strikeouts across 74 innings in 13 starts. While that ERA might not look impressive, the underlying numbers suggest Detmers could be a hidden gem for interested suitors.

Detmers, who turns 27 next month, is still under club control via arbitration for two more years after this season. With his success this season, previous years of flashing this potential and his team control, Detmers represents a fascinating trade target this year. The left-hander will make his 14th start of the season on Wednesday against the Astros.

So, let’s explore what’s gone right for the left-hander this season and why plenty of teams will surely be interested in Detmers in the coming months.

The following numbers are entering Tuesday's games.

The aforementioned 4.26 ERA (98 ERA+) doesn’t scream frontline starter but in the year 2026, we know that sheer run prevention does not tell the entire story. That’s especially true for Detmers, who boasts excellent numbers beyond his ERA.

Detmers’ ranks among 67 qualified pitchers, 2026

t-5th in FanGraphs’ WAR (2.2)
6th in xERA (2.92)
7th in FIP (2.91)

Expected ERA, which looks at a pitcher’s quality and quantity against, pegs Detmers firmly as a top 10 starter, only trailing the likes of Jacob Misiorowski, Paul Skenes, Cam Schlittler, Cristopher Sánchez and Chase Burns in that category. It’s a similar story looking at FIP, another useful indicator that tells us more about a pitcher.

Detmers ranks highly by these numbers because he’s been one of the best swing-and-miss starters in baseball this season. The Angels lefty is striking out 28.5 percent of opposing hitters, the eighth-highest mark among that same group of pitchers. Detmers is also running a healthy 29.7 percent whiff rate, placing him in the 80th percentile. That swing-and-miss stuff led to a career-high 14 strikeouts on May 24 against the Rangers.

Those strikeouts are predominantly coming from a 94.1 mph four-seamer, which has produced 30 strikeouts, and a mid-80s slider that has generated 40 strikeouts. Only Chris Sale and Burns have produced more slider strikeouts (55) than Detmers.

Detmers also throws a good changeup that’s generated a 32.9 percent whiff rate, while his big 72.5 mph curveball has produced whiffs on roughly four of every 10 swings. It’s an impressive mix of pitches that scouts and people in the baseball industry have always loved -- there’s a reason why Detmers frequently got compared to Clayton Kershaw.

The lefty has also lowered his walk rate to a career low 7.8 percent and done a better job limiting hard contact, something that plagued him in years past. That Detmers has done all of these things so well possibly speaks to lessons he learned while pitching in the bullpen last year.

His trade acquisition price should be a fascinating storyline to follow at the Deadline. For years, Detmers was viewed as a potential change-of-scenery guy, a pitcher that clubs with strong pitching development programs could fix. Now that Detmers has started to realize some of this potential, his case is all the more compelling.

Any team looking to acquire Detmers is looking at three potential postseason runs and two full regular seasons beyond this year. Given his long-perceived upside, previous levels of success as a starter and the step forward he’s taken, you can bet the market will be hot for the talented left-hander.

Which teams may be looking for his services remains to be seen. As always, you can never have enough pitching and there will be legitimate contenders (Braves, Brewers and Guardians) that could be interested suitors, while bubble teams (D-backs, Padres and White Sox) might view Detmers as a final push to get them to the postseason.

While there’s the possibility the Angels hold onto Detmers, the timing appears ripe to swing a deal. With the Angels running one of the worst records in the Majors, this would be an optimal time to move Detmers, along with another talented starter in José Soriano. Depending on how the market shapes up, the Angels could be primed to be one of the most interesting sellers this Deadline.