The Detroit Tigers Already Have Their Tarik Skubal Replacement

When the Detroit Tigers traded one of the best pitchers in all of baseball, Tarik Skubal, to the Los Angeles Dodgers, it caught many off guard that the Tigers actually went through with the trade.

While it came as a shock, the Tigers clearly knew they already had Skubal's replacement waiting behind him, as Troy Melton is starting to emerge as the next ace for the Tigers.

Troy Melton is Displaying His Potential

It is hard to overlook the success that Melton has had this season and not see the glimpses of potential that made it easier for Detroit to move on from Skubal. Melton owns a 7-1 record with a 1.46 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 69 strikeouts across 80 innings. 

The most recent stretch for Melton has been more impressive, as over his last five starts he has produced an ERA of 0.88 with 28 strikeouts. 

Troy Melton Still Has More to Prove

Melton isn't a complete player yet, and he won't be an exact replacement for Skubal, as it took Skubal several seasons to develop into one of the best pitchers in the entire league. 

Nevertheless, Melton does not need to exactly become Skubal to become the next ace of Detroit. As long as he maintains his strikeout rate and consistency, he can continue to emerge as the leading pitcher for the future in Detroit.