Skubal notches 1,000th career K in final start before Deadline

DETROIT -- Tarik Skubal marched up the steps and out of the Tigers’ dugout like a man on a mission as he took the field for his pregame warmup routine about 40 minutes before first pitch. He patted the Tigers’ bullpen catchers on his way towards the bullpen, then stopped just in front of the left-field corner for the biggest part of his pregame routine – a hug and a kiss to his baby boy, Klay, hoisting him high in the air to hand him back to his wife, Jessica, in the stands.

Like so many successful starting pitchers, Skubal thrives on routine. Everything about his warmup routine looked similar to a typical start from early in the season. The only sense that something might be different about Wednesday came in the roar from the crowd when Skubal was introduced.

The Tigers hit the road for a three-city West Coast trip starting Friday. Their next home game isn’t until Aug. 11. Nobody knows what the Tigers' roster will look like that night, Skubal included. If Wednesday ends up being Skubal’s final appearance as a Tiger, Detroit – from the fan base to the team – wanted it to be memorable. With 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball and six strikeouts, it was a quality outing. If it wasn’t a farewell, it was an appreciation, and a mutual thank you.

Skubal’s first batter quickly provided the moment. When Taylor Ward fanned on Skubal’s changeup, the bane of so many right-handed hitters over the last three years, he became Skubal’s 1,000th career strikeout.

Skubal became the 17th pitcher in franchise history to record 1,000 strikeouts. He joins a list that includes Hall of Famers Jack Morris (1,980), Hal Newhouser (1,770) and Jim Bunning (1,406); likely future Hall of Famers in Justin Verlander (2,374) and Max Scherzer (1,081); and a longtime Hall of Fame candidate in Mickey Lolich (2,679). Skubal reached it in 857 innings, topping Scherzer (944 2/3) for the fastest to 1,000 strikeouts with the Tigers in franchise history. He’s also the fifth-fastest left-hander to 1,000 strikeouts in MLB history, behind only Aroldis Chapman (602 1/3), Hall of Famer Billy Wagner (757 2/3), former Tiger Robbie Ray (810) and Blake Snell (872).

The crowd rose to an ovation as the milestone showed on Comerica Park’s giant video board. While fans applauded Skubal, the back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner took off his cap and applauded them back.

This is why pitching Wednesday was never in doubt, despite the percolating speculation over his future leading into Monday’s Trade Deadline.

“I’m pitching,” Skubal said. “I’ve got something cool that I want to accomplish at home. That won’t change.”

Though manager A.J. Hinch’s answer to a pregame question about the risk of pitching Skubal amidst trade rumors sparked debate on the media circuit over his status, Hinch said Wednesday morning that pitching Skubal was never a debate.

“Pitching Tarik today was never really up in the air,” Hinch said. “It’s all about winning, and I think the Trade Deadline starts to grab away from some of that attention externally.”

There was plenty more for Skubal to applaud Wednesday afternoon, from Detroit’s offensive outburst against O’s lefty Trevor Rogers to shortstop Kevin McGonigle’s diving stop and throw to rob Tyler O’Neill of a single in the seventh. The latter gave Skubal a chance to preserve his scoreless performance.

A two-out walk to Coby Mayo brought Hinch out of the dugout, usually the mound visit that ends Skubal’s outing. The crowd booed and Skubal turned in frustration as Hinch neared the mound, but after a discussion, Hinch headed back to the dugout with Skubal still in. Leody Taveras’ ensuing RBI single – Baltimore’s first run off Skubal since 2021 – ended the shutout and Skubal’s afternoon, the lefty leaving to another standing ovation.