Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal named to 2nd MLB All-Star game as consecutive Cy Young campaign builds

Skubal would be the first AL pitcher since Pedro Martinez to go back-to-back since 1999-2000

Brandon Carr, Digital Content Producer

Published: July 7, 2025 at 5:21 AM

DETROIT – Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal has been named to the Major League Baseball All-Star game in Atlanta, joining American League starters and teammates Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene, and Javier Báez.

Skubal’s participation in the midsummer classic was all but sealed as he has led the Tigers to the best record in baseball as they sit at 57-34 (27-20 away) after sweeping the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday (July 6).

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Tigers manager A.J. Hinch sent out Skubal to close the three-game series, in which he did as he struck out 10 batters while allowing three hits in seven innings.

Skubal added another notch to his belt as he recorded his sixth double-digit strikeout game of the season and 13th of his young career.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) walks to the dugout with Dillon Dingler before a baseball game, Sunday, July 6, 2025 against the Cleveland Guardians, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

However, the 28-year-old is chasing a daunting feat that has been achieved by only 11 pitchers in MLB history: winning consecutive Cy Young awards.

That accomplishment has not been achieved by an AL pitcher since Boston Red Sox icon and Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez accomplished it in 1999 and 2000.

Skubal is the reigning AL Cy Young winner and two-time All-Star who has been exceptional once again during the 2025 season for the Tigers.

The big lefty has won 10 games while accomplishing a 2.02 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 116 innings pitched through 18 starts.

Skubal’s combination of a blazing fastball that can top 100 mph and one of baseball’s best changeups.

He throws his changeup 31% of the time, even more than his four-seam fastball, keeping hitters off balance with multiple pitches in many locations across the strike zone.

During his Triple Crown season, opposing batters hit just .197 against his changeup. In 2025, that average has dropped to an immaculate .152.

For instance, Skubal led the Tigers to their first ESPN Sunday Night Baseball nationally televised game vs. the Minnesota Twins, where he struck out the first five batters that stepped to the plate.

Skubal was a roll as his changup had him chasing a perfect game into the fifth inning before finishing with 13 strikeouts under the lights to tie his career high.

Skubal’s 2024 season was historic as he led the American League in wins, earned run average, and strikeouts to take home his first Cy Young unanimously to go along with his triple crown.

Ahead of the All-Star break, Skubal’s numbers, believe it or not, have been way better than they were at this point last season.

Skubal’s ERA, ERA-plus, fielding independent pitching (FIP), walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP), and strikeout-to-walk ratio all surpass last season’s marks.

He’s also pitching deeper into games, making every start a must-watch event.

Skubal emerged as a breakout star in the second half of 2023 and dominated in 2024, holding opponents to two runs or fewer in 24 of 31 starts and pitching at least six innings 21 times.

He helped lead the Tigers to the playoffs, where they upset the Houston Astros in the wild-card series and pushed the division-winning Guardians to a decisive fifth game.

This season, Skubal has continued to ride the wave of success. On May 25, against the Guardians, he threw a two-hit complete game shutout with 13 strikeouts and zero walks, using just 96 pitches for his first career complete game shutout.

As of this writing, Skubal has eight scoreless outings of at least six innings and three more with only one run allowed.

Skubal’s 2.15 ERA and 184 ERA-plus this season improved on his league-best 2024 marks. His FIP and WHIP have also improved.

Skubal’s sustained dominance places him as not only the best pitcher in the show but also as the clear-cut front-runner for the American League Cy Young award again.

American League's Tarik Skubal, center, of the Detroit Tigers, and Riley Greene, right, of the Detroit Tigers, stand on the field before the MLB All-Star baseball game, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The Tigers’ ace has become must-watch baseball for fans everywhere.

Still, if Skubal continues to dominate, he would be the first pitcher to win the Cy Young consecutively since Jacob deGrom in 2018-19 and Matinez in 1999-2000.

While Skubal, Torres, Greene, and Báez are all headed to Atlanta on Tuesday (July 15), if named the game’s starter, Detroit will be well-represented, as it would be the first time since 1966 that they will fill four out of the league’s nine positions to start the game.