DETROIT — Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal received a warm ovation from fans during Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, a possible farewell performance before the upcoming MLB trade deadline. Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award contender, pitched effectively into the seventh inning with a shutout intact, but the Tigers ultimately lost 10-9 in 12 innings after Baltimore rallied from a 7-0 deficit.
Skubal was celebrated early, earning a standing ovation when he struck out leadoff hitter Taylor Ward for his 1,000th career strikeout. He surpassed Max Scherzer’s franchise record for strikeout efficiency, reaching the milestone in just 857 innings compared to Scherzer’s 944⅔ innings. Manager A.J. Hinch removed Skubal after an RBI single in the seventh inning, prompting another round of applause from the crowd of 34,406 at Comerica Park.
Despite holding a commanding 7-1 lead when Skubal exited, the Orioles mounted a comeback with five runs in the seventh, two in the eighth to tie the game, and three more in extra innings. Skubal expressed his disappointment following the loss. “We were up 7-0 and end up losing... this one hurts,” he said.
The defeat leaves the Tigers with a 51-58 record, well outside playoff contention in the final season of Skubal’s contract. The 29-year-old left-hander, who underwent elbow surgery in early May, has been a standout performer this year, reaching a record $32 million salary through arbitration—far exceeding the team’s $19 million offer. He is eligible for free agency after the World Series and is widely expected to receive a lucrative contract in the offseason.
While Skubal indicated a desire to remain with Detroit for the season’s remainder and compete for a World Series championship—the team’s first since 1984—trade rumors have intensified ahead of Monday’s deadline. “I’m just trying to live in the moment. There are a lot of things going on around me that I can’t control,” he said.
Manager Hinch declined to speculate on Skubal’s future. “I just can’t think in hypotheticals,” he said. “I’ll have a ton to say when and if and where and whenever, but it’s just a waste of my time talking hypotheticals.”
Skubal returned to the mound on June 13 after successful surgery to remove a loose body from his pitching elbow. While he acknowledged the recovery went as planned, he declined to use words like “remarkable” to describe the progress. His performance Wednesday marked a bittersweet moment for both the pitcher and Tigers supporters, highlighting the uncertain future for one of the franchise’s premier players.