Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal is ready for 2022. The left-hander will be relied on as one of the team’s dedicated arms for the season. Skubal is also looking to improve over last season, as he struggled with his command and trusting his stuff. Although, he did improve as the year went on. Plus, Skubal will have another year to work with pitching coach Chris Fetter. Being around that rotation will boost Skubal to take the next step in his career.
Tarik Skubak Last Season
On March 24, 2021, Tigers manager A. J. Hinch announced that Skubal had made the Opening Day roster out of spring training and would be part of the Tigers’ starting rotation. However, he did not have a memorable start to the season. The lefty finished April with no wins and four losses, with an ERA of 6.14. After adjusting to his pitches, he seemed to settle in better and control his pitches.
He started 29 games, with 149 innings pitched and 164 strikeouts. Overall, Skubal ended the season with eight wins to go along with 12 losses and an ERA of 4.34. The many strikeouts were a surprise to everyone since he had not been seen as a strikeout pitcher.
Excellent Arm but Still Developing
Skubal is a work in progress, but he possesses an excellent arm. Furthermore, Skubal has a 92-95 MPH four-seam fastball that reaches as high as 97 mph. He has an above-average slider and has worked on his splitter and a changeup. If he can get those pitches in check, they will be great viable options for him to use when facing hitters.
The Flaws of Skubal
Skubal has some flaws and needs to continue to work with his pitching. He is still working on his battery of pitches as one big issue is that he gives up too many home runs. Worse, he loses his focus after giving it up and struggles. He will have to improve his mental focus and limit the opposition. Providing quality starts for Detroit is key. The good news is that he knows it is all a part of the learning process. He knows there are learning things, and he must keep the opposing hitters at bay.
Still, Work to be Done
There is still work to be done, but the expectation should be that Skubal can be an important part of this future Tigers rotation. They now have three legitimate starters heading into the 2022 season. Skubal needs to pitch confidently and be that middle-of-the-rotation starter for this Tigers team. Providing quality starts every five days is important for him and the Tigers.
An Exciting Time For Tigers Fans
If Skubal can be a quality starter, it will be an exciting time for the Tigers faithful. The many years of losing could become a thing of the past. Plus, Skubal is part of the youth movement in the Tigers rotation that includes Matt Manning, Casey Mize, and Eduardo Rodríguez. He has surpassed expectations and has shown the Tiger coaches to be much better than most expected. The Tigers hope to take over the number three spot and remain an essential part of this rotation.
We know the Tigers are on the upswing. They have what looks like one of the better coaching staffs in the game, a core of talented young players, and a rebuilt front office and player development staff. It’s the start of a new era of Tigers baseball.
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Players/Managers Mentioned:
Tarik Skubal, A.J. Hinch, Matt Manning, Casey Mize, Eduardo Rodríguez
