Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal owns a 2.23 ERA with 16 walks and 153 strikeouts across 121 innings in 19 starts during the 2025 season.
ATLANTA — Reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is eager to start the 2025 All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 15, at Truist Park, but he also remains focused on what the Detroit Tigers are doing in the regular season.
The Tigers have MLB's best record, at 59-38.
They're one of the favorites to win the World Series, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers in the odds.
"To me, the goal of baseball is to win — and win championships," Skubal said Monday, July 14, at the All-Star Game Press Conference. "As much as this is an honor and I appreciate this moment, my focus is on winning a championship. That's what this game is about. I don't really think I've accomplished much until I win a championship."
Skubal owns a 2.23 ERA with 16 walks and 153 strikeouts across 121 innings in 19 starts, tied with Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet for the AL's best ERA. The 28-year-old ranks No. 1 in MLB with a 2.43 ERA since July 4, 2023, spanning 65 starts and nearly 400 innings.
In 2025, the Tigers have a 14-5 record in games Skubal starts.
"I don't want to take credit for what our team has been able to do," said Skubal, a two-time All-Star. "We've got a great roster. We're pretty well represented at this game, so I think it speaks to a lot of guys in the room. I just play my role, which is pitch. It's an honor to be here, and it's an honor to have the trust of those guys in the clubhouse that every time I go out, they think we're going to win. I think that's probably the coolest thing about all of this."
The Tigers sent six players to the All-Star Game, including four starters: Skubal, second baseman Gleyber Torres, left fielder Riley Greene and center fielder Javier Báez. Additionally, third baseman Zach McKinstry is available off the bench and right-hander Casey Mize is available out of the bullpen.
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AL manager Aaron Boone — the manager of the New York Yankees — picked Torres as his leadoff hitter for the All-Star Game. Before joining the Tigers, Torres spent the first seven seasons of his eight-year MLB career with the Yankees.
After Torres, Boone put Greene as the second hitter and Báez as the eighth hitter in the AL starting lineup.
"He's had an outstanding year for what's been the best record in the American League so far, the Detroit Tigers," Boone said of Torres, who played 888 games for the Yankees, including 98 as the leadoff hitter. "He's been a tone setter for them at the top, getting on base at an amazing clip."
But it all starts with Skubal.
His 0.826 WHIP — walks and hits per innings pitched — leads MLB pitchers, showcasing his ability to limit baserunners at an elite rate. He has a career-best 33.4% strikeout rate and a career-best 3.5% walk rate this season. He also leads MLB pitchers with a 9.56 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
The next pitcher on that leaderboard?
It's St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray, who has a 6.21 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
"I think it speaks to not only his ability to command the baseball," Boone said, "but to do it in a dominant fashion. I can't wait to see him get us off on a good note."
Skubal is the best pitcher in the world.
That's why he gets to start the All-Star Game.
"One of the true aces in the game," Boone said.
Skubal missed out on starting the All-Star Game in 2024, when then-AL manager Bruce Bochy selected then-Baltimore Orioles right-hander Corbin Burnes, even though Skubal had better results in the regular season.
In 2025, Boone didn't overthink the easy decision to start Skubal.
Pitching for the AL, Skubal is guaranteed to face these three National League batters in the first inning: Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, Atlanta Braves left fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and Arizona Diamondbacks second basemen Ketel Marte.
"Hopefully, I only face three," Skubal said. "That means I did a good job."
When the All-Star Game ends, the Tigers will travel to Arlington, Texas, for a three-game series against the Rangers at Globe Life Field, with Skubal scheduled to start the finale on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball."
The Tigers have just 65 games remaining in the regular season.
Skubal is enjoying the All-Star festivities for the second time in his six-year MLB career, but he isn't losing sight of the ultimate goal — a World Series ring.
"I plan to have a ton of fun," Skubal said. "I'm going to go out there and compete. Anytime you get to toe the rubber and the guys in the other box are the best in the game, it's going to bring out the best in you. I'm excited for the opportunity."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal wants World Series championship in 2025
Category: Baseball
