Tarik Skubal’s 1,000th Strikeout Comes Amid Tigers’ Trade-Deadline Uncertainty

On a Wednesday in Detroit, left-hander Tarik Skubal recorded his 1,000th career strikeout while pitching a 7-0 shutout into the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles. The 34,406-strong crowd gave him multiple standing ovations, and he tipped his cap after the strikeout. The Tigers later surrendered the lead, losing 10-9 in 12 innings and falling to 51-58, well outside the American League wild-card race.

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Skubal entered the game with a 7-5 record, a 2.79 ERA and 116 strikeouts for the season. Since returning from experimental elbow surgery six weeks earlier, he has posted a 4-3 record, a 2.86 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings. He is under contract for the 2024 season with a $32 million salary—the highest arbitration figure in MLB history—after the Tigers offered $19 million. The lefty will be eligible for free agency after the World Series.

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Manager J. Hinch declined to discuss trade possibilities, describing hypothetical scenarios as a waste of time. Skubal reiterated his desire to finish the season with Detroit and compete for a World Series title, a goal he first voiced on July 23.

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• 1,000th strikeout achieved in 857 innings over 153 games, surpassing Max Scherzer’s franchise record of 944 2/3 innings.

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• Only left-hander to reach the milestone in fewer games than Hall of Famer Randy Johnson (152 games).

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• Season totals: 7-5, 2.79 ERA, 116 strikeouts; post-surgery: 4-3, 2.86 ERA, 71 strikeouts.

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ET. Skubal’s contract and free-agency eligibility make him a prime candidate for a postseason move.

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• “I'm just trying to live in the moment,” — Tarik Skubal

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• “Obviously, this was a tough one,” — Tarik Skubal

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• “I just can't think in hypotheticals -- I just can't,” — J. Hinch, tigers manager

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• “I'll have a ton to say when and if and where and whenever, but it's just a waste of my time talking hypotheticals.” — Tarik Skubal

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