Tigers name Cy Young hopeful as Opening Day starter

The Detroit Tigers finished second in the AL Central last season but ultimately fell nine games short of the Minnesota Twins for first place. 

If Detroit is to take a significant leap this season, left-hander Tarik Skubal must lead the way for a mostly unproven pitching staff. 

Skubal, who recently received Cy Young Award hype, was officially named the Tigers' Opening Day starter on Friday, per the Detroit Free-Press. 

Skubal impressed in his spring training debut on Wednesday, hitting nearly 100 mph on the radar gun in two innings of work vs. the Pirates. 

The 27-year-old native of Hayward, Calif., has been limited to just 75 MLB games in four years, all with Detroit. 

He started 15 games last season, turning in a 7-3 record with a 2.80 ERA. Skubal struck out 102 batters in 80.1 innings and walked 14, cementing sky-high expectations for 2024. 

The Tigers have featured four different Opening Day starters over the past eight years. Now with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Eduardo Rodriguez started for the club in 2022 and 2023. Matt Boyd started in 2020 and 2021, Jordan Zimmerman in 2018 and 2019, and Justin Verlander in 2016 and 2017. 

Skubal is light years away from Verlander regarding productivity, durability, and results at this career stage. The hope is that he becomes the team's first ace since Verlander toed the slab at Comerica Park and stars such as Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez thrilled hometown crowds. 

The Tigers open their season on March 28 against the Chicago White Sox and will have their home opener on April 5 against the Oakland Athletics.