Los Angeles Dodgers ace Tarik Skubal returns to Comerica Park seeking to dominate his former team, the Detroit Tigers.
Tarik Skubal will return to familiar territory when the Los Angeles Dodgers open their series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Friday.
The matchup will be Skubal’s opportunity to face his former team after Detroit traded the two-time Cy Young winner to Los Angeles before the deadline.
A special moment for Skubal
Skubal will start the series opener opposite Drew Anderson, creating one of the more intriguing pitching matchups toward the end of the week.
The left-hander enters his return to Detroit after finally earning his first victory as a Dodger against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
That performance also provided perhaps the clearest look yet at the version of Skubal Los Angeles expected when it acquired him.
He encountered immediate trouble, allowing three runs on three hits in the first inning.
From there, everything changed.
Skubal dominated Pittsburgh beginning in the second, finishing with 11 strikeouts and retiring 18 of the final 19 hitters he faced in a 4-3 home victory.
According to the Associated Press, Skubal acknowledged afterward that he cannot expect perfection but needs to perform better in the first inning.
Beyond that early trouble, he was pleased with his execution and believed the quality of his pitches was as good as it has ever been.
“I’m not gonna be perfect out there, but I definitely need to be better in the first inning,” Skubal said.
“But other than that, I thought my execution was good. The stuff coming out of my hand is as good as it’s ever been.”
Manager Dave Roberts was similarly impressed.
Roberts emphasized that Los Angeles needed exactly that type of performance from Skubal, particularly his ability to complete seven innings and provide the bullpen with a reset.
The Dodgers manager also highlighted Skubal’s physicality and ability to find additional power when necessary.
“That’s the guy that we needed. Completing seven innings, reset the bullpen, great outing,” Roberts said.
“He’s very physical, and you can see that when he needs to reach back for more, it’s in there.”
A new challenge
Now comes an entirely different challenge.
Skubal has made no secret of his anticipation about returning to Comerica Park and facing the organization with which he established himself as one of MLB’s premier pitchers.
He has also discussed the possibility of eventually returning to Detroit as a free agent.
However, unless the Tigers are prepared to make the substantial financial commitment necessary to sign him, a reunion appears unlikely.
Facing his former teammates will provide another test of the qualities that have helped Skubal reach the top level of his position.
His competitiveness stands out immediately. Skubal has the ability to increase his intensity when situations demand it without completely abandoning his approach.
His response against Pittsburgh demonstrated another important quality.
Rather than allowing a difficult first inning to dictate the remainder of his outing, he made adjustments and took complete control.
That ability to reset mentally is crucial for an ace.
Skubal also brings physical strength, confidence in his arsenal and the willingness to challenge hitters aggressively.
Friday will carry emotions that do not exist in an ordinary start in the regular season.
How Skubal channels them while facing his former team could make his return to Detroit one of his most revealing starts since joining the Dodgers.
