The Tigers kept themselves in the mix Wednesday with a 5-1 win over the Cubs, and that matters because the conversation around Tarik Skubal is still very much alive.
Detroit won its second straight series behind a sharp outing from Keider Montero, who worked 5 1/3 innings in his return to the rotation. The offense did its part early and late: Spencer Torkelson opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second, Hao-Yu Lee broke things open with a three-run shot off Colin Rea in the fourth, and Zach McKinstry added an RBI double in the ninth.
At 48-54, the Tigers are still 6.5 games behind the first-place White Sox and 4.5 back in the Wild Card race. But the standings don’t tell the whole story. Detroit’s plus-28 run differential is better than every team currently sitting ahead of them in the Wild Card picture - the Astros, Twins, Orioles and Mariners.
That’s why the next stretch looms so large. There are 10 games, spread across three series, left before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, and the Tigers continue to believe they’re still in this thing. That belief is what keeps Skubal from feeling like a lock to move.
Jeff Passan recently put Skubal at a 60% chance of being traded, writing, "Considering the hole they've dug themselves, [the Tigers] are far more likely than not to move Skubal." But ESPN’s Jesse Rogers offered a different read, saying, "The Tigers think they can win the division and will hold out as long as possible in deciding whether to trade Skubal. Some rivals believe they can as well, casting further doubt that he'll be moved."
The Tigers’ next test comes in a four-game set against the Royals, who are fifth in the AL Central and just lost Bobby Witt Jr. If Detroit can handle that series and get to at least 51-55 (.481), it would put them in a better spot heading into what may be the most important series of this whole run: a matchup with the Orioles.
Baltimore is the one club in this All-Star break-to-deadline stretch that sits directly between Detroit and a Wild Card spot, 1.5 games ahead of the Tigers and three back of the final Wild Card position. The Orioles also face a tougher road before that series, with three games against the Braves, but Detroit still has to separate itself from the crowded middle before the deadline arrives.
For now, the Tigers are hanging around. If they can push above .500, that could be enough to sway the front office toward buying instead of selling and make the case that Skubal isn’t going anywhere. Until then, it’s a day-by-day watch.
In Other News...
Tarik Skubal Just Created A Brutal New Question For Tigers Fans
Tarik Skubals latest comments have turned what should have been a straightforward health update into something far more uneasy for Tigers fans. The left-hander said he felt discomfort in his elbow as early as January, but did not get an MRI, leaving Detroit with a messy backdrop around one of its most important players and a reminder that the offseason can carry as much tension as the games themselves.
Skubal also made clear the issue was not only physical, pointing to the arbitration process as part of why he handled the situation the way he did. And with his relationship with the front office already strained since that hearing, the Tigers are now left to sort through a question that goes beyond one elbow and into the bigger trust gap between ace and organization. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Fans May Not Like What This Means For Max Clark
Max Clark keeps doing enough in Triple-A to stay in the conversation, but not enough to force the Tigers hand just yet. The top prospect has put together a solid line with power and speed, showing the kind of all-around profile that makes him such a tempting long-term answer in the outfield, even if the organization is still weighing the timing of his next step carefully.
For now, the more likely path is patience, with Detroit able to let the season breathe a little longer before making a move. Clark could still get there sooner if his production takes another jump or if the roster situation changes, but the current read is that the Tigers may prefer to wait until September unless circumstances push them in a different direction. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Suddenly Face A Risky Deadline Question In Center Field
With the Tigers still in the thick of the playoff race, center field has become one of the more obvious places for a deadline upgrade. Detroit has gotten by with Matt Vierling and James Outman out there, but the position has not exactly looked settled, and that makes any credible option worth a closer look as the market starts to take shape.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic floated New York Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. as a possible fit, a suggestion that makes some baseball sense even with the injury concerns attached to his season. Robert has long shown he can handle left-handed pitching, and for a club trying to patch a real need without boxing itself into a long commitment, that kind of profile is easy to understand, even if the price and the health questions still leave plenty unresolved. [Read more 🡒]