Tarik Skubal delivered a dominant performance on Friday night, striking out a season-high 12 batters over 7 1/3 innings to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 2-1 victory against the Kansas City Royals in Detroit. Skubal, a two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner and current free agent-to-be, allowed one run on four hits with two walks in what was considered one of his best outings this season. Closer Kenley Jensen secured the final three outs for his 12th save in 16 opportunities.

Kansas City starter Beck Way struggled early, giving up two runs in the first inning that proved decisive. The Royals’ bullpen starter, Noah Cameron, limited Detroit to just two hits with eight strikeouts and three walks over seven innings. However, the Royals managed only one run, scored in the fourth inning after Salvador Perez doubled and later came home on a two-out double by Nick Loftin.

In other Major League Baseball action on Friday, the New York Yankees shut out the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 as Cam Schlittler threw 7 1/3 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts. Schlittler improved his record to 10-6 and lowered his ERA to 2.07 while leading the American League in strikeouts with 157. The Yankees’ lone run came off a Paul Goldschmidt home run, his second of the season after a long drought. Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo allowed just one run and three hits in seven innings with nine strikeouts.

The Houston Astros overcame a five-run deficit to defeat the Chicago White Sox 9-5, fueled by an eight-run sixth inning highlighted by Christian Walker’s three-run double. Cam Smith contributed a two-run homer, and LaMonte Wade Jr. added two RBIs. The Astros extended their winning streak to four games. On the mound, reliever Kai-Wei Teng earned the win despite surrendering two runs in two innings.

The Boston Red Sox edged the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 thanks to a pivotal two-run eighth inning, sparked by Romy Gonzalez’s pinch-hit RBI double. Anthony Seigler delivered a standout offensive performance, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, a leadoff home run, and scoring two runs. Garrett Whitlock earned the win in relief, while Aroldis Chapman recorded his 391st career save, moving into sole possession of ninth place on the all-time saves list.

The Atlanta Braves defeated the Baltimore Orioles 7-6 in 10 innings on a game-winning three-run homer by Matt Olson. Drake Baldwin hit a game-tying home run in the eighth for Atlanta. Elieser Hernandez earned the victory in relief, pitching three scoreless innings in his first major league appearance since 2024. Baltimore’s Christian Encarnaion-Strand drove in four runs, including a 10th-inning homer.

In New York, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Mets 4-2 behind a solid outing from Roki Sasaki, who struck out nine and gave up one run in seven innings. Kyle Tucker’s two-run homer in the eighth inning provided critical support. For the Mets, Luis Robert Jr. and Francisco Alvarez each hit solo home runs.

The Texas Rangers held off the Seattle Mariners 5-4 in Arlington, highlighted by Jake Burger’s two-run homer and a tiebreaking single. Relief pitcher Peyton Gray earned the win, and Jacob Latz secured his 20th save despite allowing a run in the ninth. Mariners starter Bryce Miller gave up five runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Finally, Eugenio Suarez’s two-run homer in the seventh helped the Cincinnati Reds defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2. Sal Stewart and Tyler Stephenson also contributed with multiple hits and RBIs. Julian Garcia picked up the win in relief, and Emilio Pagan closed with a perfect ninth inning for his 10th save. The Cardinals suffered their sixth loss in seven games.