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

DETROIT -- Tarik Skubal is trying his best to stay in the moment, as he puts it, to not think about what could happen at next Monday’s Trade Deadline or beyond. He didn’t want to take thoughts about potentially his final start as a Tiger with him to the mound Wednesday against the Orioles.

But after he sent a changeup past Orioles leadoff hitter Taylor Ward to begin his outing with his 1,000th career strikeout, he couldn’t help but get a bit emotional. By the time the Tigers’ 10-9 loss was done, 12 innings later, Skubal’s 6 2/3 quality innings seemed unrecognizable, let alone his milestone. But in a day of mixed emotions, he couldn’t help but look back.

“Some of these accomplishments just hit different,” he said. “That one, for whatever reason, just felt more special than every other one. The first time I struck out 200 in a season felt special to me, and I don't really know why. Just as I was getting closer, I was like, ‘This is pretty cool.’

“And when you take in my career, you get a little bit nostalgic in those moments. I don't know if I could've convinced myself when I was 19 that I would strike out a thousand guys in the big leagues. Just little things like that are special. It might not mean a lot; the guy right next to me [Justin Verlander] has got 3,500 of them. But nonetheless, they're special to me.”

Skubal reached it in 857 innings, topping Max 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).

And yet, for as quickly as Skubal reached the mark, it feels like a lifetime. He was a scrawnier presence on the mound, a former ninth-round pick turned top prospect, a good pitcher without a changeup, when he recorded his first Major League strikeout on Aug. 18, 2020 against the White Sox in Chicago. He had already given up four runs when he got the whiff to end the second inning.

“Slider, kind of middle in, to Eloy Jiménez,” Skubal recalled. “Not a good day. That was a pretty forgettable debut, honestly. Most of 2020 was pretty forgettable. But at the same time, I learned so much. I got my teeth kicked in a bunch. It was good for me. Anytime you fail, anytime you're put in some adversity, there's an opportunity for growth and development. I think that I did a good job of bouncing back.”

He made his first several starts as a Tiger in front of no fans during the COVID pandemic. He has always appreciated big crowds since. And when the crowd rose to an ovation after his 1,000th strikeout, Skubal took off his cap and applauded them back.

“I want to live in the moment. There's a lot of stuff going on around me that I have no control in,” Skubal said. “I try to be pretty present all the time. And when the fans get on their feet like that and give you a pretty good ovation, it's special. It'll never not be special, and it's something I've always appreciated. And hopefully they feel the same way. Hopefully they feel like I've given everything to the team, to the city, because I truly have.”

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 Verlander (2,374) and Scherzer (1,081); and a longtime Hall of Fame candidate in Mickey Lolich (2,679).

The more Skubal reminisced, the more he sounded like he was preparing himself. It was a fitting mix after a game that showed why the Tigers look like world beaters when Skubal is pitching, holding a 7-0 lead with seven outs to go, then why they’re in the predicament of seven games under .500 after giving up nine unanswered runs, mostly off the bullpen.

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. It was, as much for how Skubal pitched as what followed. If it wasn’t a farewell, it was an appreciation, and a mutual thank you.

“It's been a helluva ride,” Skubal said. “I wouldn't change anything, wouldn't change one bit of it, just my whole story, my whole life. It made me who I am, and I appreciate that. It is a little nostalgic, right? I don't really like thinking like that. Hopefully there's a lot more in the future, too. It's cool nonetheless.”