Tigers All-Star Tarik Skubal opens series vs. Mariners

Tarik Skubal had his final start before the All-Star break moved up. The Seattle Mariners will now have to deal with the Detroit Tigers' ace on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.

Skubal, like several of his teammates, will head to Atlanta after the series wraps up to participate in the annual showcase. Detroit manager A.J. Hinch decided to flip him and Casey Mize in the rotation so Skubal has an extra day off before the All-Star Game.

"It was a manageable pitch count for Tarik in his last start (93) and there's the potential of him starting the All-Star Game," Hinch said. "Over the course of the next 10 days, what's best for Tarik and what's best for us was to keep him on regular rest. And with Casey coming off the highest pitch total of the year, extra rest is always good."

Skubal (10-2, 2.02 ERA) has been dominant over his last 16 starts -- after getting tagged with a loss in his first two outings. He has been particularly overwhelming at home, going 8-0 with a 2.06 ERA while striking out 90, compared to just seven walks, in 65 2/3 innings.

Just reaching base has been an accomplishment for opposing batters in his last two outings. He limited Minnesota to one hit and one walk while tying his career high with 13 strikeouts in seven innings on June 29.

Cleveland managed just three hits off him in another seven-inning stint on Sunday. Skubal didn't issue a walk while recording 10 strikeouts.

The Tigers wound up winning in extra innings.

"That's the job of pitching," Skubal said. "When the offense isn't finding their rhythm, you've got to keep the game close to allow them to establish a rhythm. I think we were able to do that."

Skubal, who hasn't allowed a run in his last 18 innings, is 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA in four career starts against Seattle.

Mariners starter Luis Castillo (5-5, 3.31) also has been tough to hit in his last two outings. He held Texas to one run in six innings on June 29, then threw seven shutout innings against Pittsburgh on Saturday. He gave up two hits while notching eight strikeouts.

"As the season is progressing, I think I'm progressing pretty well, and I'm feeling pretty well," Castillo said. "And I think that's why we're at the point of season where I think I can kind of locate my pitches where I want them at the velocity that I want."

Castillo is 1-4 with a 3.75 ERA in six career outings against the Tigers.

Detroit had Thursday off after seeing its five-game winning streak snapped by Tampa Bay on Wednesday. The Tigers will once again look to record their 60th win of the season.

The Mariners head to Detroit after a demoralizing loss. Bryan Woo carried a no-hitter and 5-0 lead into the eighth against the New York Yankees on Thursday night. The Yankees rallied for a 6-5 victory in 10 innings, completing a three-game series sweep.