Skubal proves he's 'one of the best' after another gem

DETROIT -- The way Tarik Skubal finished last season, he didn’t want it to end. The way the Tigers left-hander has started this season, it’s like it never did.

He won AL Pitcher of the Month last September by going 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA over his final five starts, including a 43-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 30 innings. With a 4-0 record, 1.72 ERA, 41 strikeouts and six walks over 36 2/3 innings through six starts this year, he has a case to repeat for April.

Skubal is the first pitcher in Tigers history with 40+ strikeouts and less than nine walks through his first six starts.

“He’s one of the best pitchers in the league,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said after Skubal struck out six over seven innings of one-run ball in the Tigers’ 4-1 win Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park. “Upper 90s [velocity], location, plus changeup, curveball, you name it. He's going to be a challenge for everybody.”

For the most part over Skubal’s career, the Royals have actually been a challenge for him. He entered Sunday with a 1-7 record and 5.09 ERA in 11 meetings, and hadn’t beaten Kansas City since 2021. For a brief stretch Sunday, the Royals looked like they could beat him again.

Maikel Garcia’s grounder skipped past third baseman Matt Vierling and down the left-field line for a double to start the game. Bobby Witt reached for a 1-2 changeup off the outside corner and connected, turning Skubal’s strikeout pitch into an RBI single to center and a 1-0 lead. It was a good pitch, Skubal thought, but it was just Witt’s second hit in 14 at-bats against him.

With the dangerous Witt on the basepaths for Salvador Perez -- 8-for-18 with three home runs off Skubal entering Sunday -- the Royals had their chance. Instead, Skubal got a Perez popout and retired the side in order.

By the time Skubal came back out for the second inning, he had a lead to protect, thanks to Wenceel Pérez’s first Major League homer. He wasn’t giving it back.

“It looked like he hit another gear,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “That’s what the big boys do.”

For a 21-batter stretch between Skubal’s first and last innings, the only baserunner he allowed came from a Garrett Hampson single to shortstop. He refined his changeup around the middle innings and struck out five Royals in an eight-batter stretch, drawing 11 swings and misses off the changeup alone. He still had his fastball in the tank as the game went on, after wearing down in later innings in his first couple starts to the season.

“That fastball is just so good,” said Tigers teammate Mark Canha, shaking his head. “When you have a pitch like that in your back pocket, it makes it so hard on the hitters when you can’t catch up. You’re trying all day and he’s mixing on you and it becomes a balancing act for the hitter. He makes it really hard on you.”

Hunter Renfroe froze on a 98 mph fastball at the knees to begin the second inning. Dairon Blanco took a 97 mph heater on the inside corner in the fifth. And after Witt took a changeup on the outside corner for strike two in the sixth inning, Skubal challenged him with three consecutive fastballs, powering up to 98.8 mph to fan him on a foul tip.

“If he’s doing a good job, staying in there for changeups, I don’t want to give up another hit,” Skubal said. “So you have to kind of flip the script like that.”

The resulting performance flipped the script on Skubal’s history with the Royals. With four hits and a walk over seven innings -- the deepest he has pitched into a game against Kansas City -- he beat them for the first time in six meetings at Comerica Park, and the first time anywhere since June 16, 2021, at Kauffman Stadium.

“It's good to face this team at home, but hopefully the next time I face this team it's in Kauffman so I can rewrite that one too,” said Skubal, who could get his wish when the Tigers visit Kansas City in three weeks. “They've kind of hit me around a little bit, and I don't like that.”

Combine Skubal’s numbers from last September with the first six starts this season, and the result is an 8-0 record with a 1.35 ERA in Skubal’s last 11 starts, including 84 strikeouts to 10 walks over 66 2/3 innings. He has taken the throne of staff ace and made a case as one of baseball’s toughest lead starters.

“He’s good, he’s been good, and hopefully he stays good,” catcher Jake Rogers said.