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Dodgers Lead Race for Tigers Ace Skubal

7/30/2026

32 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Dodgers Target Skubal

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the frontrunner to acquire Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal before the Aug. 3 deadline.
Interest rose after Shohei Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 due to a left-knee injury.
Skubal posted a 2.79 ERA, 116 strikeouts in 96.2 innings and a league-leading 3.7% walk rate.
Andrew Friedman said the Dodgers always pursue star players and may trade Emmet Sheehan and outfield prospects for a controllable starter.

Summary

Skubal Sets Record

Tarik Skubal became the fastest Detroit Tigers pitcher to reach 1,000 strikeouts, doing so in 857 innings and surpassing Max Scherzer’s franchise record.
After a NanoScope elbow procedure on May 6, he returned on June 13, well ahead of the usual 2-3-month rehab.
He logged a 3.23 ERA in nine starts, a 2.57 ERA overall and a franchise-leading 10.5 K/9, ranking among the league’s top pitchers in WAR (12.6).

History

Historical Context

Since Walter Johnson entered the 3,000-strikeout club in 1923, the milestone has marked elite durability; Nolan Ryan joined as the fourth member on July 4 1980 and ultimately amassed a record 5,714 strikeouts. Detroit’s Tarik Skubal hit 1,000 strikeouts in 857 innings in 2024, prompting the Los Angeles Dodgers to explore a blockbuster trade before the August 3 deadline.

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Dodgers Target Skubal

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the frontrunner to acquire Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal before the Aug. 3 deadline.
Interest rose after Shohei Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 due to a left-knee injury.
Skubal posted a 2.79 ERA, 116 strikeouts in 96.2 innings and a league-leading 3.7% walk rate.
Andrew Friedman said the Dodgers always pursue star players and may trade Emmet Sheehan and outfield prospects for a controllable starter.

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