Detroit’s flamethrowing southpaw dominated his minor-league rehab debut, signaling a powerhouse return as the surging Tigers pivot from trade rumors to a legitimate American League playoff push.
The best pitcher in the world has been sidelined for over a month now, and baseball just hasn't been the same without him. Especially in Detroit, where the Tigers are 11-23 since the month of May. However, context tells a different story. The Tigers appear to be surging once again, winning their first two series of June and posting a 5-1 record to begin the month. They capped off their latest series with a walk-off, two-RBI single from rookie phenom Kevin McGonigle that had the entire crowd wearing makeshift McGonigles.
Coinciding with Detroit's resurgence is the return of the Sith Lord himself, Tarik Skubal, who's known to vanquish opponents with laser beams traveling 100 mph right past swinging lightsabers for devastating strikeouts.
Skubal began his return Sunday with a rehab start for the West Michigan Whitecaps. A Single-A team whose tickets normally sell for around $10 saw a massive spike in demand with Skubal on the mound, as some fans reportedly paid upwards of $750 to attend the game.
If you were one of the many who ponied up the cash to get into the ballpark, you were rewarded with a classic Skubal performance.
As Skubal kicked his leg high into the air, he bowled over opposing hitters for five dominant innings. He allowed just two hits while striking out six batters and looked every bit like the ace Tigers fans have been desperately waiting to see return.
Some of the pitches he was dusting hitters with were simply unfair for Single-A batters. Many of these young players are still adjusting to seeing higher-level breaking balls while simultaneously trying to develop the ability to catch up to quality fastballs. Then one day they're told they have to face the best pitcher in the world.
Needless to say, Skubal turned the outing into a learning experience.
That said, there were two hitters who managed to collect hits against him. For those players, it's safe to assume they were walking on cloud nine for the rest of the evening. A quick kudos goes out to them, and if you're able to get a knock off Tarik Skubal, maybe that promotion up the organizational ladder isn't too far away.
Skubal's dominant outing came at an interesting time for Detroit. Recent reports indicate the Tigers have informed teams that Skubal is not available as they prepare to dive headfirst into a crowded American League Wild Card race filled with underperforming contenders.
Despite sitting 12 games under .500 on June 8, Detroit remains just 5.5 games out of the final playoff spot. For the Tigers, the mindset appears simple: throw away the first two months and start fresh.
You could almost say Detroit spotted the rest of the league a 5.5-game head start.
Now, with Skubal nearing his return and several other players expected back from the injured list, the Tigers suddenly find themselves with life. Add in reports suggesting Scott Harris, Chris Ilitch, and the organization intend to hold onto Skubal through the season, and the question becomes obvious:
Can the Tigers make a serious push?
Sunday's outing, albeit against Single-A competition, proved to Tigers fans everywhere that Skubal is returning just as strong as ever. In fact, he may be even hungrier.
Hungry to put this team on his back.
Hungry to carry Detroit back into contention.
Hungry to give everything he has for what could potentially be his final season wearing the Old English D.
I say potentially because it's all but written in pen that Scott Boras will make sure Skubal receives every dollar he's worth on the open market. Unfortunately for Tigers fans, that number could end up being far too rich for owner Chris Ilitch's wallet.
For now, though, none of that matters.
Skubal lit it up with the Whitecaps, and Tigers fans finally got a glimpse of what's waiting on the horizon. We'll be watching closely for his next rehab start, although there may not be many more before he's back where he belongs — standing on the mound at Comerica Park, wearing the Old English D.
