By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jessica Tobias
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal has a chance to do something that hasn’t been done in 25 years, and that is to win back-to-back American League Cy Young awards.
Pedro Martinez was the last pitcher to accomplish this feat with the Boston Red Sox in 1999 and 2000. Skubal is posting staggering numbers this season. He’s posting a 10-3 record with a 2.19 ERA, 164 strikeouts, and a 0.81 WHIP.
In his last start, he recorded 11 strikeouts in six innings of work against the Texas Rangers. Skubal has one of the most devastating fastballs in baseball. It’s his best pitch, and he knows how to work the strike zone—Skubal challenges his opponents when he uses his fastball, which can reach anywhere from mid- to high-90s.
Skubal has a good changeup as well. The similarity between him and Martinez is that both pitchers can throw hard but know how to fool hitters with their changeup. Martinez had a more lethal changeup than Skubal.
The Tigers will need to go all in this year and even hear to win a championship because Skubal will hit free agency after the 2026 season.
Given the huge contracts nowadays, a caliber pitcher like Skubal will want a $400 million contract. The Tigers most likely won’t take that risk. They’re lucky they don’t have to think about that right now.
In the meantime, let’s appreciate the sensational performance Skubal is putting on display. It’s astonishing how quickly he emerged as one of the top pitchers in the game.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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