The Detroit Tigers are heading to October baseball, and one of their biggest advantages just got a little bigger.
After clinching a playoff spot with Saturday’s win, the Tigers made the strategic decision to hold top star out of Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Boston Red Sox. On paper, it’s a simple move. In reality, it could define Detroit’s postseason run.
Skubal has been the unquestioned ace of the Tigers’ staff in 2025, anchoring a rotation that has dealt with its share of ups and downs. His numbers speak for themselves: a 13-6 record, a sparkling 2.21 ERA, and 241 strikeouts over 195.1 innings. Opponents have struggled all season to square up his electric fastball and devastating changeup, making him one of the most dominant pitchers in the American League.
Detroit still has a shot at the AL Central Division crown, but the calculus here is simple: whether the Tigers enter as division champions or as the final Wild Card team, they’ll need Skubal at his best in October. Starting him on Sunday might help secure home-field advantage, but it would also make him unavailable for the opening game of the Wild Card Round. And for a franchise that hasn’t had this kind of pitching weapon in the postseason since the Justin Verlander–Max Scherzer era, that’s a risk they’re not willing to take.
Instead, Skubal will get an extra day of rest and preparation before taking the ball in Game 1 of the Wild Card series. Whoever draws the assignment of facing him will be in for a nightmare matchup right out of the gate. Few pitchers in baseball have been as consistently overpowering as Skubal this season, and his ability to set the tone early could swing an entire series in Detroit’s favor.
There’s also a psychological edge at play. By holding back their ace, the Tigers are signaling confidence. They aren’t chasing marginal gains in the standings; they’re prioritizing October, where every pitch matters and every mistake is magnified. That’s a mindset shift from a franchise that has spent much of the past decade rebuilding and recalibrating.
For fans, it’s a reminder of how far this team has come. Just a few years ago, Detroit was searching for direction, piling up losses while waiting for its young core to mature. Now, with Skubal leading the way, the Tigers not only have a legitimate ace—they have a chance to make noise on the biggest stage.
And when the lights go on in October, it’s going to be Skubal who gets the ball first.