The Detroit Tigers opened their Wild Card series against the Cleveland Guardians with a 2-1 win, carried almost entirely on the back of Tarik Skubal’s brilliance. The lefty struck out 14 over 7 2/3 innings in one of the most dominant postseason pitching performances Detroit has seen in years, and by the final out, the baseball world was buzzing.
“I was just worried about executing each pitch and trying to do my best pitch-to-pitch and do what I do that makes me a great pitcher,” Skubal said.
Coaches Praise Skubal’s Performance
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch didn’t mince words after the game, calling the outing exactly what the team needed at the biggest stage:
“Obviously, Tarik set an incredible tone for us. He’s been incredible for us all season, but what a performance at the biggest moments in the biggest stage to get us in a great position to win the game.”
He’s managed plenty of talented pitchers, but he emphasized how Skubal’s ability to handle the pressure of October elevated the entire team. By dominating from the first pitch, Skubal gave the Tigers both belief and breathing room in a game that otherwise hung on every pitch.
“It’s vintage Tarik Skubal for those who don’t know him,” Hinch said. “This is what you get.”
Even Guardians manager Stephen Vogt couldn’t help but comment on the yourg ace’s performance:
“Tarik Skubal was outstanding. Punched out 14. Couldn’t get anything off of him.”
Dillon Dingler Chimes In
Catcher Dillon Dingler, who has had the best seat in the house for Skubal’s breakout year, didn’t hold back when asked about his teammate’s performance. He stressed that what fans saw in Game 1 wasn’t an outlier; it was a continuation of the dominance Skubal has delivered all season, only now magnified on the playoff stage.
“He’s the best pitcher in the world right now,” Dingler said. “That’s the type of pitcher he is, what he showed everybody tonight and he was lights out. It’s huge.”
Big Names Celebrate
Unsurprisingly, the social media lit up with joy, awe, and a bit of meme magic. Clips of Skubal’s strikeouts circulated almost immediately, many captioned with phrases like “ace mode,” “lights out,” and “unhittable.”
On X, a few familiar faces exploded with praise:
Detroit Needs to Lock Him Up
Skubal’s Game 1 masterpiece only amplifies what Tigers fans and analysts have been saying for months: the front office should make him a franchise cornerstone. Performances like this don’t just help in the moment–they define rotations, anchor postseason runs, and create the kind of stability teams crave.
At just 28, Skubal is in his prime, and his trajectory suggests he’s only getting better. The Tigers have been building toward contention, and nothing accelerates that process more than securing an ace who can dominate in October. Skubal signed a 1-year, $10.15 million contract back in January. Detroit will need to act decisively if it wants to avoid watching him approach free agency after 2026 with other clubs circling.
Locking him up would not only secure their ace, but also send a message to the rest of baseball: the Tigers are no longer just rebuilding, they’re ready to invest in winning now.
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