Breaking: Tigers’ 27-year-old Star Tarik Skubal Goes Viral with Epic Reaction after a Crucial Incident from Victory Over Yankees…

Breaking: Tigers’ 27-year-old Star Tarik Skubal Goes Viral with Epic Reaction after a Crucial Incident from Victory Over Yankees…

After a stellar performance against the New York Yankees, Skubal revealed that one of his major goals for the 2024 season is to reach 200 innings pitched—a benchmark he views as significant due to the elite company of top-end starters who achieve that feat.

Speaking with Jon Morosi, Skubal said, “I don’t necessarily have a number, but a lot of the horses around the league throw around 200. That’s something, as a starting pitcher, you take a lot of pride in. If I can get to that number, that would be great.”

In his latest outing in Williamsport, Skubal delivered six strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five, effectively neutralizing a potent Yankees lineup.

Managing Skubal’s Workload: AJ Hinch Weighs In

With the Tigers unlikely to make the playoffs, despite their improved 61-64 record, the organization is focused on managing Skubal’s workload carefully. The left-hander has already surpassed his previous career-high of 149.1 innings, now sitting at 155.1 innings and counting.

Tigers manager AJ Hinch emphasized the importance of being cautious with Skubal’s usage, noting that he likely won’t be pitching on a regular five-day schedule for the remainder of the season.

“It’s important for us to be very aware, which we are, and it’s also important for us to watch what he’s doing,” Hinch explained postgame. “He’s a guy who works tremendously hard and has put himself in a really good position. He’s in an incredible routine and has stuck to it. We’re controlling the things we can control.”

Hinch also praised Skubal’s consistent effort, saying, “He continues to go out and dominate, continues to put in good effort between starts. We’re giving him extra rest, but he’s done the work. You’ve got to reward players when they’ve done the work by giving them a chance to compete.”

Even if the Tigers were in the playoff hunt, they would likely still be cautious with Skubal’s workload. As one of Detroit’s most valuable assets, preserving his health is paramount to the team’s future success.

Skubal’s Breakout Season

Skubal has truly emerged as one of baseball’s top pitchers in 2024. After posting a solid 2.80 ERA in 15 starts during 2023, this season has been his breakout campaign. The 27-year-old boasts a 14-4 record with an MLB-best 2.49 ERA in 25 appearances, leading the American League with 185 strikeouts. He was also named an All-Star for the first time in his career.

While the Tigers are currently dealing with several injuries in their rotation, Hinch has made it clear that this won’t necessarily mean Skubal will pitch every fifth day. The focus remains on preserving the health and future of their star pitcher, a strategy that seems to be the wisest approach as Skubal continues to shine in what has become a Cy Young-caliber season.