Fastball

Detroit Tigers Ace Joins Elite Team History as Aaron Judge Calls Him Best in Game

Tarik Skubal showed out on Sunday night during the Little League Classic, joining some elite team history and getting the attention of Aaron Judge.

Brady Farkas

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) delivers a pitch against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) delivers a pitch against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. / David Rodriguez Munoz / USA TODAY NETWORK
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The Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees on Sunday Night in a great edition of the "Little League Classic" in Williamsport, Penn. The Tigers came from behind to win 3-2 in extra-innings. Detroit has now won five of its last six games to move to 61-64 on the year.

Though he didn't factor into the decision, Tigers' ace Tarik Skubal was awesome once again. The lefty went 6.0 innings, giving up just one run on three hits. Though he walked four, he struck out five. The front runner for the American League Cy Young Award, Skubal is 14-4 this season with a 2.49 ERA. He's struck out 185 batters in 155.1 innings.

He also moved up an impressive list in Tigers team history, per @StatsCentre:

(Related) Lowest earned run average in a @Tigers pitcher's first 25 starts - Last 75 seasons (1950-present):
2.19- Denny McLain (1968)
2.30- Justin Verlander (2011)
2.35- Mickey Lolich (1972)
2.40- McLain (1969)
2.48- Joe Coleman (1972)
2.49- Skubal (2024)
2.53- Verlander (2012)

In addition to the history, Skubal also made quite the impression on Yankees star Aaron Judge, who called him the best pitcher in the game.

"He's the best pitcher in the game right now. When he came back last year at the end of the year, he hit a different gear, a different level. It's not fun facing a guy like that, but it is fun competing against the best."

The Tigers are off on Monday but will be back in action on Tuesday night when they travel to Chicago to take on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

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Brady Farkas

BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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