CLEVELAND – Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal shared his thoughts on his performance and emotions during the team’s Game 1 American League Wild Card game against the Cleveland Guardians.
Game 1 starter
When asked about his feelings coming off in the seventh inning, Skubal said, “I thought my outing was coming to a close, but you know, I was ready to go back out there. You know, I’m never going to take myself out of a game, and I don’t really ever want the handshake, but I made an assumption, but it was fine.”
Skubal emphasized his focus on pitch execution rather than overthinking the situation.
“I was just kind of worried about executing each pitch and trying to do my best to live pitch by pitch and just do what makes me a good pitcher, and that’s, you know, getting ahead and getting guys into leverage,” Skubal said.
Reflecting on the opportunity to pitch game one after recent team challenges, Skubal said, “It means a lot to take the ball game on. To have the trust of our entire organization, including teammates, coaches, and the coaching staff, is a great honor. And it doesn’t really matter how we got here. You know, we got in, everybody’s in the same boat, and we’re up 1-0 in a best of three.”
Dillon Dingler’s pitch calling
Regarding his slider usage, Skubal gave credit to catcher Dillon Dingler‘s pitch calling.
“He calls it, and I throw it. That’s kind of it. That’s kind of how all of it goes. There’s like two shakes a game, and the rest are him calling it, and I just try to throw it,” Skubal said.
4th inning dribbler
When the Guardians scored a run on a Gabriel Arias ground ball, which Skubal couldn’t quite handle, he acknowledged their competitiveness.
“That’s just who they are over there. They’re really competitive. They take every 90 feet. They run the bases really hard. They put a ton of pressure on you. And that’s, you know, that’s how they scratch one across there, and it’s what they do,” Skubal said.
Pitch execution
On his overall pitch execution, Skubal said, “I was bought in on every single throw that I made today. That’s what I mean, really, what matters is me trying to execute every pitch. I’m not perfect. I’m not gonna be perfect.”
Managing pressure
Skubal shared how he manages pressure and stays focused during games.
“I think your breath is probably the most important thing you can do. You know, just breathe out there. I think a lot of moments that happen that are out of your control or in your control, you know, just breathe.”
14 strikeouts
Skubal reflected on tying the Tigers’ franchise postseason strikeout record with 14 strikeouts, a mark set in 1972 by Joe Coleman, who tossed a complete game on Oct. 10 in a 3-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics during Game 3 of the ALCS.
When asked if the strikeout record mattered to him, Skubal said, “I understand, but it doesn’t really matter. Winning is what matters to me. It’s mattered to me all year. I think winning is the most important thing in sports. It’s why you play to win.”
Skubal added, “However, I can make an impact on a win, maybe that’s a different answer, but I just care about winning more than anything.”
Winning-focused mindset
Skubal shared when he developed this winning-focused mindset.
“Kind of started doing that once I got into the big leagues. Once you start playing in stadiums that are a little bit bigger than you’re used to, especially since I’m from a smaller school. I may have pitched in front of 500 people in college.” SKUBAL
Skubal explained the adjustment needed for major league play.
“So once you start getting into the big leagues and there’s 30, 40,000, you’ve got to do some things to calm down and just make sure that you’re focused on each and every pitch, and that’s one of them for me,” Skubal said.
Will Vest
Skubal praised relief pitcher Will Vest for closing out the game.
“He comes in for me in the eighth when I kind of run out of gas there and gets exactly what he’s supposed to do, get us out of the inning, and then, I mean, the first ball was kind of a chaotic play, right? And they’re at third base with nobody out and to just bunker, you know, settle in, you know, strike a guy out, make them make a mistake and then the game’s over.”
Tarik Skubal
Vest came in to finish the eighth inning and start the ninth with a 2-1 lead.
José Ramírez, on a 1-1 count, hit a line drive up the middle to Javier Báez, who snagged the ball from going into centerfield.
As he came up to throw to first, Báez threw a one-hopper to Spencer Torkelson, who stretched to make the out at first base, but he short-armed the ball, and it bounced off his foot into right field.
The play sent Ramírez to third as he hustled to third base.
With the momentum mounting, George Valera pinch-hit and struck out swinging on a 2-2 pitch.
Designated hitter Kyle Manzardo stepped up to the plate in the high-pressure atmosphere inside Progressive Field and hit a blooper back to Vest, who was able to catch Ramírez in a rundown before ultimately tagging him out.
First baseman CJ Kayfus popped up on the first pitch to Báez for the final out of the game as the Tigers defeated Cleveland 2-1, taking a 1-0 series lead in the best of three.
Zach McKinstry
Skubal shared his thoughts on Zach McKinstry in the seventh inning to lay down the perfect bunt with a man on first and third with one out in a 1-1 game, which helped score the game-winning run.
When asked about his view on the bunt and if pitching with the lead changed his approach, Skubal said, “No, I don’t really, I’m not going to really change my approach a ton. Obviously, you want to pitch with the lead, but a one-run lead is not much. It’s still close. just one swing of the bat, the game is tied, you know.”
Skubal added, “So it feels good to pitch with the lead, but it’s not going to dictate kind of what I throw or how I’m going to go about my business.”
Skubal praised the bunt as a crucial play.
“But it was a big-time play. Perfectly executed, you know, almost gets a knock out of it, too. You know, make them field the ball and throw it to first, and to put us up 2-1. That’s all we needed today,” Skubal said.
Casey Mize
Looking ahead to teammate Casey Mize starting Game 2, Skubal expressed excitement and confidence.
“I’ve had the pleasure of being teammates with him since 2018. We came up together through the minor leagues and rehabbed together after both of us got hurt in the big leagues. I’ve seen all the work that he’s put in, and I couldn’t be more excited for him to go out there and pitch and just go out there and compete,” Skubal said.
Skubal concluded, “This is a guy that was left off our roster last year in the postseason. So, to just kind of see all the work that he’s put in this offseason and then how he’s come back, and obviously how he’s looked lately. That’s awesome for him. I’m very excited for him. And um he’s our guy tomorrow.”
Game 2
With the victory, the Tigers move one step closer to advancing to the American League Divisional Series against the Seattle Mariners, but they will have to get through a tough Cleveland team, which will look to seek revenge in Game 2.
Look for RHP Mize to take the mound for Detroit on Wednesday at 1:08 p.m. vs. RHP Tanner Bibee inside Progressive Field.