Tigers’ Tarik Skubal looks to continue torrid run in finale vs. Red Sox

Tarik Skubal might be even better than he was last season.

Considering Skubal was the runaway choice for the American League Cy Young Award last year, that’s a scary thought for opposing batters.

Skubal, who has been on an amazing run, will take the mound for the Detroit Tigers in the series finale against the visiting Boston Red Sox on Wednesday evening.

Detroit will aim for a three-game sweep after following a decisive 14-2 victory Monday with an 11-inning thriller on Tuesday. Javier Baez’s second three-run homer of the game gave the Tigers a 10-9 win.

Skubal (4-2, 2.08 ERA) overwhelmed Texas’ lineup in his last start on Friday, holding the Rangers to one run and two hits while striking out a season-high 12 in seven innings. The left-hander carried a perfect game into the sixth inning of Detroit’s 2-1 victory.

“It was a completely dominant performance,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He was in complete control of almost every at-bat. I think he had one three-ball count, and he came back and punched him out. I don’t know how to describe it except to say he was in complete control and it was incredible to watch from my seat.”

Over his last six starts, Skubal has given up just four runs in 37 innings, with 50 strikeouts and just one walk.

“I don’t like walking guys,” Skubal said. “I want guys to earn their way on first base. I don’t like walks or hitting guys. I don’t want to give up free bases because that run ultimately comes around and scores.”

In 31 starts last season, Skubal posted an 18-4 record, 2.39 ERA and an 0.92 WHIP with a 6.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He carries an 0.88 WHIP and 12.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio into his ninth start this season.

In his last 20 starts at Detroit’s Comerica Park, Skubal is 13-1 with a 1.56 ERA and 150 strikeouts. He is 2-2 with a 4.30 ERA in four career starts against the Red Sox.

Hunter Dobbins will start for Boston. Dobbins (2-1, 2.78 ERA), a rookie right-hander, will make his fifth career start overall and his first versus Detroit.

Dobbins delivered the best outing of his young career on Friday, tossing six scoreless innings with no walks and six strikeouts in his team’s 2-1, 12-inning loss to Kansas City. He did not allow a runner beyond second base until Kyle Isbel tripled with one out in the fifth inning.

“We had a good game and stuck to it,” Dobbins said. “Some absolutely great defensive plays behind me. They let me pitch to contact.”

Dobbins didn’t have a clear rotation spot coming out of spring training. More performances such as that will make it tough for manager Alex Cora to remove him from the starting staff.

“The separation from his fastball to his off-speed pitches is real,” Cora told The Boston Globe. “You cannot sit in between. You have to respect the fastball, then the off-speed pitches are great.”

Dobbins isn’t going to overpower hitters, as Skubal does, but he’s not looking for big strikeout totals.

“Just get outs,” he said. “I’m happy to pitch to contact and get ground balls. It’s not just trying to blow the hitter away.”

–Field Level Media