Defending Cy Skubal vs. MLB-best Braves? Sign us up

What will happen when the two-time defending Cy Young Award winner takes on one of MLB’s best offenses? We sure can’t wait to find out.

Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal, the American League Cy Young honoree in both 2024 and 2025, will take the mound against the Braves tonight (7:15 p.m. ET) in what promises to be an excellent test for Detroit’s ace starter.

Skubal carries a 2.72 ERA through his first six starts into the Interleague matchup at Truist Park in Atlanta. The southpaw is coming off an outing against the Brewers on Thursday at Comerica Park in which Skubal gave up four runs on seven hits while striking out five in six-plus innings. In 36 1/3 innings this season, he has 38 strikeouts against just six walks.

It will be just the second time in his career Skubal has faced the Braves. The other one, on June 19, 2024, in Atlanta, didn’t go well: Skubal allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits in four innings despite striking out seven. On a better note, the two players who hit home runs against him in that game -- Sean Murphy and Ramón Laureano -- won’t suit up for Atlanta on Wednesday. Murphy is still rehabbing a torn right hip labrum, and Laureano now plays for the Padres.

Among current Braves hitters, catcher Jonah Heim (3-for-16 lifetime against Skubal with one home run), first baseman Matt Olson (2-for-7) and utility man Mauricio Dubón (1-for-7, HR) have faced the lefty the most. Shortstop Jorge Mateo is 3-for-5 off Skubal, second baseman Ozzie Albies is 2-for-2, and third baseman Austin Riley is 1-for-2. The Braves are off to a strong offensive start in 2026, ranking second in MLB behind the Dodgers in batting average (.274), slugging percentage (.455) and OPS (.795).

Skubal and the Tigers enter Wednesday’s game in first place in the AL Central, leading the Guardians by a half-game in a closely contested division. Even the fifth-place Royals are only two and a half games out of the lead in the Central.

The Braves, meanwhile, have MLB’s best record at 21-9 after Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Tigers in the series opener. Two key pieces exited for Detroit in the loss: starter Casey Mize left in the third inning with right groin tightness, while shortstop/center fielder Javier Báez was carted off the field after appearing to injure his right ankle while running to first base on a ground ball. Both players are set to undergo MRIs on Wednesday.

If Mize requires a stint on the injured list, it would be another blow to a Tigers rotation that is already without Justin Verlander (left hip inflammation), Troy Melton (right elbow inflammation) and Jackson Jobe (Tommy John surgery recovery). Keider Montero and Jack Flaherty are healthy, and free-agent signing Framber Valdez has been a steadying force, but it’s Skubal on whom Detroit has depended at the top of its rotation. To have a shot at winning a road series against the strong-starting Braves, the lefty will have to bring his “A” game.

Fortunately for the Tigers, Skubal usually does.