Tarik Skubal is the best pitcher in baseball: What we learned in MLB wild-card Game 1s

chonprasit

Major League Baseball

Updated Oct. 1, 2024 7:24 p.m. ET

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October is here, and the only thing certain in baseball is that it will be wild. Fittingly, the postseason commenced Tuesday with four wild-card games.

Day 1 certainly hasn’t disappointed thus far, as the Tigers and Royals stunned the Astros and Orioles, respectively.

FOX Sports MLB writers Deesha Thosar and Rowan Kavner will be offering their top takeaways from all the action.

Let the games begin!

TIGERS 3, ASTROS 1

Skubal might just be getting started

Tarik Skubal and the Tigers absolutely came to play. Even taking away the fact that Detroit had to win Game 1 with their ace on the mound, this young and hungry squad made it obvious they’ll be tough to go through for the remainder of the series, too.

While Skubal’s dangerous arsenal and fired-up attitude were nothing new, what stood out to me is the advantage he gives himself by pitching so quickly. With that fast delivery, Skubal can easily replicate his mechanics and give hitters minimal time to adjust to what might be coming next. His six scoreless innings Tuesday made it easy to see how he earned the pitcher’s triple crown. — Deesha Thosar

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Tigers got the game they had to have

As incredible as their end-of-season run was — they went an MLB-best 31-13 in their last 44 games and led the majors with a 2.72 ERA in that time — what was equally incredible is the way they did it, with ace Tarik Skubal serving as the workhorse of a patchwork rotation composed primarily of multi-inning relievers. That’s what it’s going to be in October, too. As manager AJ Hinch told reporters before the wild-card series, “Our plan, to give you an overview, is Tarik Skubal tomorrow and pitching chaos the rest of the way.”

The Tigers have clearly demonstrated they can win with that chaos, but it’s hard to rely on mayhem. Winning the Skubal game felt like a must. He provided the one sure thing in the Detroit rotation, and in his first career playoff appearance, the triple crown winner got it done.

Now, things will get interesting. The Tigers have other actual starters they can use on the roster, including Reese Olson and Casey Mize, but odds are the next day (or two) will feature a bevy of arms. Expect to see a good amount of Tyler Holton — he had an 0.83 ERA in the second half and threw only two pitches in Game 1 — with a chance to close it out.

For the Astros, it’s not panic time. They have the clear upper hand in the rotation the rest of the way, and experience is on their side. But the youthful Tigers, in the dance for the first time since 2014 after a scorching finish to the year, don’t appear fazed. — Rowan Kavner

Check back later for commentary on Royals-Orioles, Mets-Brewers and Braves-Padres.

Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.

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