Detroit looks to finish off its second series sweep of the season on Sunday, this time with four straight wins.
After a slight stumble in their last series against the Milwaukee Brewers , the Detroit Tigers have turned things around quickly against another American League Central rival, the Kansas City Royals .
The Motor City Kitties returned to the D this weekend and took the first three of the four-game series. They have outscored Kansas City, 16-5, so far as the Tigers’ offense continues its torrid start to the 2025 campaign, while the pitching staff continues to amaze under Chris Fetter’s tutelage.
It is also worth noting that Detroit is 8-1 when playing inside the friendly confines of Comerica Park, which vies with the Texas Rangers for the top mark in the AL.
Good news for those loyal to the Olde English D: Sunday is Tarik Skubal Day! The reigning Cy Young Award winner will face veteran Michael Wacha on what is hopefully a beautiful afternoon in the D.
Detroit Tigers (13-8) vs. Kansas City Royals (8-14)
Time (ET): 1:40 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site: Royals Review
Media: Bally Sports Detroit , MLB.TV , Tigers Radio Network
Game 22: LHP Tarik Skubal (2-2, 2.66 ERA) vs. RHP Michael Wacha (0-3, 4.35 ERA)
SKUBAL
Baseball Savant
WACHA
Baseball Savant
Tarik Skubal looks to continue early-season rebound
Skubal started the year on a sour note, logging a 5.91 ERA along with a nearly identical 5.94 FIP over the 10 2⁄3 frames while striking out 10 in his two initial appearances, with the big bruise coming from the three home runs he allowed in those games. However, it appears to have been a West Coast affliction because he has returned to his heroic form since coming back to the near side of the country.
Over his past two starts, the southpaw has tossed scoreless quality starts in both stretching across 13 innings, with only eight hits and zero walks allowed while striking out 15. It looks like the real Tarik Skubal finally stood up.
Michael Wacha is an innings-eater at best
Wacha is now in his 13th season of big league play and continues to be a perfectly cromulent cog in the Royals rotation — but also absolutely mid as far as results are concerned. Despite his winless record, his efforts have been serviceable.
Save for his season debut, he has reliably given five-plus innings in his outings while giving his team a reasonable chance of winning; however, K.C.’s offense has fallen short three of those four times. The 33-year-old has given up just one dinger, which is fortuitous for his 1.31 WHIP, but he is due for some hard-hit balls according to his Statcast numbers.