Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal. Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Watch: Reigning AL Cy Young winner hurls first complete game of career

By Andrew Wright | Last updated May 25, 2025 2:29 PM ET

Tarik Skubal could be well on his way to winning the American League Cy Young Award in back-to-back seasons.

Skubal put together his best start of the season on Sunday in the Detroit Tigers' 5-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians.

Skubal threw the first complete game of his career and capped it off with a 103 mph fastball to get his 13th and final strikeout of the game.

103 TO FINISH IT. ARE YOU KIDDING?!@TarikSkubal pic.twitter.com/Ad787oOIex
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 25, 2025

Skubal struggled a bit in the early part of the season, allowing seven runs, three home runs and walking four over his first two starts of the season.

Since then, he's allowed 12 runs, three home runs and walked just three across his last nine starts. That has helped lower his season ERA from 5.91 after two starts to 2.49 after 11 starts.

If Skubal can continue his excellent work, he will be in a position to be the first pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards since Jacob deGrom did it in 2018 and 2019 with the New York Mets.

Tarik Skubal is the first pitcher in Tigers history to throw a complete game with zero walks, no more than two hits, and 13+ strikeouts.

The last Major League pitcher to do so was Jacob deGrom on April 23, 2021. pic.twitter.com/fScGwpVEE3
— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) May 25, 2025

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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