Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal on F-bomb at Mother Nature, Paul Skenes fandom, Game 1 desire
Pitching in the rain, Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal walked two batters in a row in the first inning, stranded the bases loaded with two outs on four pitches and showed his emotions as he entered the dugout.
He dropped the F-bomb.
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That's not out of the ordinary, but it has been a while since Skubal turned to an expletive to express his feelings. This time, he was cussing out the weather in Game 1 of the doubleheader on Thursday, June 19, against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park.
"I think he was mad at the rain," manager A.J. Hinch said, following the Tigers' 9-2 Game 1 win. "The rain got him. It frustrated him. He wanted to figure it out. He took it out on himself — and other areas."
GAME 1: Tarik Skubal gets plenty of run support in Tigers' 9-2 win over Pirates
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) walks off the field in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
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Indeed, the rain rattled Skubal in the first inning.
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Let him explain.
"I was just a little upset with the weather," Skubal said. "I was a little upset. I felt like we could have started that game — from the third inning on, I felt like it was very manageable, so it just felt like we could have started that game a little bit later. Warming up, it was coming down pretty good. I think that's what I was more frustrated at. My hat is literally leaking water in front of my face as I'm pitching. I'm like, 'Why didn't we just wait?' That's kind of what I'm thinking, and that's where it's frustrating to me. When it's raining like that, the mound gets ruined, so there's not much you can do after that. That was frustrating, for sure. But their guy is playing in it, just like we are, so you can't let it affect you. I probably did let it impact me a little bit. I guess that's something I can take away in the future, just don't let outside things that you can't control impact your emotions."
Skubal allowed two runs on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts across 5⅔ innings, tossing a season-high 103 pitches. The Pirates scored in the fifth and sixth innings.
It was one of Skubal's worst starts of the season.
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"If that's an off day for him, it's still a pretty good day," Hinch said.
Skubal has a 2.06 ERA in 15 starts.
"I don't think I met the standard of who I think I am," said Skubal, who surpassed 100 pitches for the first time this season. "I don't think I was very good. But we won, so it doesn't really matter how I feel or what I think. The goal every time I'm out there is to win, and we won today, won a series and have a chance to sweep. On to the next one."
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Tarik Skubal talks Paul Skenes
The Tigers and Pirates had a chance to create an epic matchup between Skubal and right-hander Paul Skenes in Thursday's doubleheader, but Skubal chose to start Game 1 — and Pirates manager Don Kelly started Skenes in Game 2 in a managerial decision based on what was best for his team.
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Fans were robbed of Skubal vs. Skenes in Game 1.
"Selfishly, I'm glad that I'm not pitching (Game 2) so I can dial in and watch him," Skubal said. "As much as I play the game, I'm the biggest fan as probably anybody else. I'll be able to watch, and hopefully, we tag him up a little bit, but his stuff is pretty good."
SO CLOSE: Tarik Skubal vs. Paul Skenes won't happen this time. But players agree it would've been fun
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
In 2024, Skubal won the American League Cy Young Award and Skenes won the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Both players were honored at the Baseball Writers Association of America awards dinner in late January 2025.
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They've crossed paths a couple of times.
"I think the way he carries himself is great," Skubal said. "The head on his shoulders is very mature. He knows his routine. He's bought into what makes him good. I feel like he's always trying to get better at something. It shows with who he is on the mound."
Skenes, 23, has started 38 games in his two-year MLB career — 23 games in 2024 and 15 games in 2025. The No. 1 overall pick in 2023 has a 1.89 ERA with 267 strikeouts across 229 career innings, including a 1.78 ERA entering Thursday's start.
Here's a tidbit: Skubal had a 4.40 ERA in the first 38 games of his MLB career, back in 2020-21.
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"I can't say my career started the same way, but he's great for the game," said Skubal, now in his sixth MLB season. "Everybody wants to watch him play. We need the stars to be on the field for the product to be good and to make fans want to come to the yard. It's great for everyone involved, including myself."
JEFF SEIDEL: One story about Tigers prospect Kevin McGonigle sheds insight into why he's different
As for stardom, Skubal has been the best pitcher in baseball for the past three years, with a 2.39 ERA and 447 strikeouts across 368⅓ innings in 61 starts. The 28-year-old is tracking to become the first AL pitcher to win the Cy Young in back-to-back seasons since Pedro Martínez in 1999-2000.
Meanwhile, Skenes is the frontrunner to win the NL Cy Young in 2025.
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"I'm a fan," Skubal said.
Tarik Skubal explains Game 1 preference
Skubal chose to start Game 1 when Hinch asked him about his preference for Thursday's doubleheader, following the postponement of the game Wednesday, June 18, due to thunderstorms at Comerica Park.
He could've picked Game 2.
But there's a reason he wanted Game 1.
"I've always just wanted to throw the first game," Skubal said. "Whether this is true or not, I think that I like all my guys to be fresh behind me. Not saying they're not fresh for Game 2, but it's just more about my mental buy-in — that I know our guys are ready to go. I'll always throw Game 1."
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The only way Skubal wouldn't throw Game 1 is if a pitcher with more MLB service time — such as right-hander Jack Flaherty, for example — demanded the first game of a doubleheader.
Skubal has performed slightly better in day games compared to night games in his 121-game career, posting a 3.04 ERA in day games and a 3.29 ERA in night games.
That's not why he chose Game 1.
It's just his preference for all doubleheaders.
"Starting the second game of a doubleheader when it's straight is tough because it's 40 minutes after the first game ends," Skubal said, "but who knows when the first game ends? I start my routine two hours before the game. It's a little bit different when you don't know the second game time. That's why I just prefer to throw Game 1, if I have any say in it."
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Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is fan of Pirates star Paul Skenes
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