Skubal flashes Cy form with 100-mph K; Maeda scratched

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Grapefruit League games may not count in the standings, but don’t tell Tarik Skubal they don’t matter.

The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner made his penultimate start of the spring on Saturday, firing five innings of two-run ball in a 2-2 tie against the Phillies, who sent out a lineup loaded with regulars to face the Tigers on a picturesque day at BayCare Ballpark.

“A lot of guys don't want to go on the road, but typically, teams are going to flood their everyday guys in there [when they play at home],” Skubal said. “Everybody competes against each other. People are going to say it doesn't matter; I can promise you, it matters to almost everybody. It’s competitive and I like that. I like to get those juices flowing with Opening Day coming up.”

Skubal allowed six hits, struck out seven and did not issue a walk. His fastball sat in the high 90s for most of the day, but he caught Nick Castellanos looking at a 100.1 mph fastball for an inning-ending strikeout in the fourth.

“That was 100?” Skubal said. “Nice.”

The punchout put an exclamation point on the eight-pitch inning, one that saw Skubal strike out Kyle Schwarber on three pitches, get J.T. Realmuto to ground out on an 0-1 pitch, then strike out Castellanos on three pitches.

“I think that's who I am,” Skubal said. “That's damn near an immaculate inning. That’s who I want to be on the mound.”

Skubal will make his final start of the spring on Friday in Sarasota against the Orioles, giving him another chance to face a loaded lineup prior to his Opening Day assignment on March 27 at Dodger Stadium.

“Part of spring is trying to get the most realistic reps you can,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “For a guy like him, it's good to see the regular lineup, the crowd, just the overall atmosphere. It kicks in a little bit of adrenaline, which I think high-end guys often times need.”

Maeda scratched
Kenta Maeda had been slated to follow Skubal in Saturday’s game, but the veteran right-hander battled a stomach bug on Friday night, prompting the Tigers to scratch him from his scheduled outing.

“He’s beat up a little bit; it hasn’t been a great night for him,” Hinch said. “Don’t make me describe it, please.”

Hinch said Maeda would likely throw on a back field by Tuesday. Maeda is 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA in four outings (three starts) this spring, though he has struck out 19 batters in 12 2/3 innings.

Tigers trim roster
Seeing a team make a number of cuts roughly a week before the end of big league camp is hardly unusual, so it didn’t turn many heads when the Tigers announced that eight players -- right-handers Jordan Balazovic and Brendan White; left-handers Dietrich Enns and Matt Gage; infielder Andrew Navigato; outfielders Akil Baddoo and Bligh Madris: and catcher Brian Serven -- had been reassigned to Minor League camp prior to Saturday’s game.

Hinch said the timing was not a coincidence, however.

“One of the reasons that we made the cuts today is the last week [of Spring Training] should feel different,” Hinch said. “You should see more recognizable names, you should play a little bit deeper into the game. You should be in a room where you look around and every single person is trying to get on this roster.”

The Tigers have 41 players remaining in big league camp, 26 of whom will break with the club for Opening Day.

“It's not a camp anymore; it's a team,” Hinch said. “It doesn't mean that somebody that's not in camp isn't going to be a major player in the season, but this should feel like a week as a team. That’s the hope.”