The most impressive skill of Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is not that he can throw 100 mph or that he has a nasty changeup that is about 12 mph slower or that he has two wicked breaking pitches. Itâs that with that kind of stuff he can be several different pitchersâwhatever is required to defuse the opponent.
Here are Skubalâs most favored pitches in his past three wins entering Tuesdayâs wild-card Game 1:
|
Date |
No. 1 Pitch |
Percentage |
|---|---|---|
|
Aug. 30 |
Sinker |
29% |
|
Sept. 18 |
Four-seam fastball |
54% |
|
Sept. 24 |
Changeup |
33% |
He can beat you up, down, in and out, hard and soft. So, what would be the Skubal game plan against the Houston Astros, the No. 1 hitting team in the American League this year vs. fastballs (.283; does not include cutters) last year (.279)? Yep, you got it: Go soft.
Skubal threw the highest percentage of changeups he has thrown all year (36.4%). Only once in his career did he throw more than the 32 changeups he threw Houstonâand that was the 36 he threw the Tampa Bay Rays in his last start.
Deep into the season, Skubal is getting better. He is 7â0 with a 1.75 ERA in his past 10 starts. Few pitchers have better stuff. Even fewer can beat you in so many ways. If the Tigers advance, Skubal just might own this postseason.
