Skubal is the reigning AL Cy Young winner
Detroit Tigers star Taik Skubal showed the baseball world on Sunday why he’s one of the best pitchers in the game with a dominant performance against the Minnesota Twins.
Skubal went seven innings, struck out 13 batters and allowed only one hit as Detroit won the game, 1-0. The reigning American League Cy Young award winner also made franchise history.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, #29, winds up to throw during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, June 29, 2025 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
He became the first Tigers pitcher to strike out 13 batters in a single game without allowing more than one hit, according to MLB.com. It’s the 10th straight time he’s picked up a winning decision.
"I appreciate the expectations from the fanbase or from whoever is watching me play," Skubal said, via The Detroit News. "But I just want to win. That's all that matters to me. To get another series win and to win on the day I'm going. But I appreciate it, and I expect the same thing from myself.
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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, #29, and catcher Dillon Dingler, #13, acknowledge each other after the final out of the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, June 29, 2025 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
"I don't think I had these same expectations two or three years ago, and our team didn't either. I want the fans to expect the best out of me because that's what I expect, too. We want the same thing. They want to win, and I want to win just as bad."
Skubal lowered his ERA to 2.15 with the win. He’s leading the majors with 138 strikeouts. Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet is a close second with 135. Skubal is in prime position to win the second AL Cy Young award of his career.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, #29, reacts after the final out of the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, June 29, 2025 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter each had solo home runs for the Tigers. Carpenter added another RBI to his stat line.
Detroit is 53-22 on the season as Minnesota fell to 40-44.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
