Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) throws to first against Cleveland Guardians in the eighth inning during game one of the wild-card round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Progressive Field. David Dermer-Imagn Images

Tarik Skubal gets back to form as Tigers take wild-card series lead over Guardians

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Sep 30, 2025 4:49 PM ET

After watching his team lose his last three starts of the regular season, Tarik Skubal saved his best for the postseason. Skubal's performance on Tuesday afternoon made history and helped the Detroit Tigers end an otherwise miserable month in the best way possible.

The American League Cy Young favorite struck out 14 batters while allowing only one run and three hits in 7.2 innings as the Tigers beat the Cleveland Guardians, 2-1.

With the win, Detroit now holds a 1-0 series lead in their wild-card series.

Skubal's dominance did more than just put the Tigers one win from advancing. His 14 strikeouts tied the most in any start in his career and also matched the most in a start in Tigers postseason history.

Most strikeouts in a start in his career
Tied for most strikeouts in a start in @Tigers #postseason history

Ladies and gentlemen, Tarik Skubal pic.twitter.com/ShPRnAdr44
— MLB (@MLB) September 30, 2025

Detroit needed every bit of Skubal's brilliance — it scored only two runs off five hits and committed an error as a team.

Prior to his historic playoff start, the Tigers lost three straight games with Skubal on the mound. And while he pitched decently in those outings, he failed to make it to the seventh inning or reach double digits in strikeouts in any of those games.

Sklubal was 1-2 in the month of September before the playoffs, with his only win coming over the MLB-worst Chicago White Sox on Sept. 6.

Tarik Skubal's return to form shouldn't surprise anyone

But of course, no one should really be surprised Skubal would bounce back with a playoff start for the ages. He went 13-6 and posted a 2.21 ERA to go along with 241 strikeouts and a 0.89 WHIP in 31 starts during the 2025 regular season.

Now that Skubal has done his job, the Tigers are on the verge of claiming the only revenge possible for losing a division title that seemed to be theirs all summer — eliminate the team that beat them out in the AL Central.

However, Detroit will have to win one of the next two games without Skubal on the bump in order to officially move on.

Game No. 2 between the Tigers and Guardians is set for 1:08 pm ET Wednesday from Cleveland's Progressive Field.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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