CLEVELAND — Tarik Skubal’s regular season was remarkable, showcasing his ability with overwhelming performances, numerous strikeouts, and victories. However, it is his postseason experience that will stand out, specifically one challenging inning and a single pitch.
In a crucial moment for the Detroit Tigers, Skubal surrendered a grand slam to Lane Thomas as the Cleveland Guardians overwhelmed him for five runs during the fifth inning, leading to a 7-3 victory over the Tigers in Game 5 of the AL Division Series. This abrupt end followed an impressive two-month surge that took the Tigers into the postseason after overcoming significant challenges and sweeping Houston in the wild-card round.
“Of course, it’s not the result we desired, but I feel tremendous pride for this team,” remarked Skubal, reflecting on their unexpected journey. “What we accomplished is incredible. We have much to be proud of.”
Throughout the season, the 27-year-old left-hander was a beacon of hope for the Tigers, who had struggled and appeared destined for yet another third- or fourth-place finish in the AL Central until their remarkable 35-16 resurgence post-August 10. Skubal led the league in wins, earned run average (ERA), and strikeouts, achieving what is commonly referred to as the pitching triple crown, and he is a strong contender for the AL Cy Young Award. Nevertheless, he would willingly exchange these accolades for another opportunity to pitch in the postseason.
Having silenced the Guardians for four innings and extending his postseason shutout streak to 17 innings, Skubal faced a turning point in the fifth. After yielding a leadoff single to Andrés Giménez, he struck out Brayan Rocchio but then allowed a single to Steven Kwan, who recorded an impressive .524 average in the series. David Fry, following a critical pinch-hit homer in Game 4, reached base with a weak grounder, loading the bases for Cleveland.
Skubal’s streak ended when he accidentally hit José Ramírez, allowing Cleveland to score their first run. The situation quickly worsened as Thomas capitalized on Skubal’s first pitch—a 96.9 mph sinker that was poorly placed—driving it over the left-center wall for his second homer of the series.
“That was an impressive swing,” reflected Skubal. “As much as I would like to have that moment back, I was focused on executing the pitch, and I failed to do so. I felt good throughout the game, even in that inning.”
Thomas, who struggled with two previous at-bats that ended in grounding out and popping out, expressed excitement over making contact against Skubal’s fastball. “You have to respect a pitcher with that much success this season. He finally threw one in the zone, and I managed to make decent contact,” he noted.
After completing six innings, Skubal was greeted warmly by his teammates with hugs and handshakes. Manager A.J. Hinch made sure Skubal knew he wasn’t to blame for the outcome.
“Clearly, he gave everything possible and more,” Hinch said. “Today’s performance wasn’t his fault. He was in command of the game, and if we could have provided more runs for him, it might have changed everything. This loss will weigh on him throughout the offseason given the stakes, but if I had to choose a pitcher for a decisive playoff game, I would gladly write his name down in the lineup again.”