Skubal continues to deliver despite trade rumor mill

DETROIT -- Standing ovations have become a regular part of Tarik Skubal’s outings at Comerica Park this season. Still, as the Tigers left-hander walked off the mound after seven innings of two-run ball Saturday in Detroit’s 7-2 win over Minnesota, the crowd of 35,138 made a point to show its appreciation.

“What an environment,” Skubal said. “That was great. It was great last night, and I look forward to playing in front of the fans like this again tomorrow and the next series.”

Chances are, Skubal will be back on the mound here next Friday against the Royals. But with baseball’s Trade Deadline looming Tuesday, the Tigers in selling mode and Skubal attracting interest from contending teams with deep farm systems, fans did not delay a show of gratitude -- maybe, you know, just in case.

Neither Skubal nor manager A.J. Hinch looked at it this way. Instead of viewing this as a potential ending, they want to look ahead. Skubal’s look forward to more crowds like this was a subtle hint.

“I’ve always been told the playoffs here are about as electric as they get anywhere, for any team,” Skubal said. “That’s the goal. That’s where you want to play. I’m sure the playoffs will be more loud and chaotic. That’s something I look forward to doing.”

That’s the goal. The challenge for this team, and the front office, is how they get there.

“I love what we’re building here,” Hinch said, “but I want to stop talking about building and I want to win every game. What we’re witnessing with Tarik is just scratching the surface on what he can do. He’s getting a ton of attention. He’s an All-Star now.

“When [his spot] rolls around, you notice it, I notice it, the fans notice it, the other team notices that Tarik Skubal is on the mound. You can’t say that about every pitcher in the league. You only talk about the top, small percentage of pitchers where you react that way. And we have one.”

For the Tigers to give that up, to part with Skubal with two more years of club control before potential free agency, president of baseball operations Scott Harris would likely need a bonanza in return, the kind of haul that would not only bolster an organization already banking on young talent, but make Detroit better in a hurry. It’s an irrational return for a player who has drawn interest from some of the most rational, analytically-driven front offices in the game. The Orioles’ trade with the Rays for another starter, Zach Eflin, likely reflects that, even if the O’s could do more dealing.

Skubal has kept his focus on the mound rather than the rumor mill. He showed nothing different in his pregame routine, from the long toss in the outfield to his bounding up the dugout steps and onto the field for the first pitch.

“It seemed like a normal Skube Day,” catcher Jake Rogers said.

After a first-inning hiccup, Skubal delivered the kind of outing that has become familiar with him all summer. A leadoff single to Manuel Margot and a first-pitch slider over the plate for Royce Lewis’ 11th home run of the season put Skubal in a 2-0 deficit seven pitches in. Skubal allowed three singles and two walks the rest of the way, striking out eight for his sixth consecutive quality start, four of them seven-inning performances.

The Twins’ first-inning damage nudged Skubal’s ERA from 2.34 entering the day to 2.35, still lowest among qualified MLB starters.

“It’s hard to really get anything going off of Skubal, he’s that tough,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “And he threw the ball very well today. This was not like one of his lesser games. This was textbook Tarik Skubal.”

Skubal didn’t work with a lead until his final inning, after Colt Keith tripled home Matt Vierling in the sixth and scored on Mark Canha’s sacrifice fly. After Skubal retired the Twins in order in the seventh, Javier Báez added on with a two-run drive, homering for the third consecutive day, before Keith’s two-run homer put the game away.

While the Tigers hobble into the home stretch, down to three starting pitchers thanks to injuries and having put All-Star outfielder Riley Greene on the 10-day injured list Friday with a right hamstring strain, Skubal continues to deliver, becoming a must-watch event. The fans, and everybody else in Detroit, hope to see more.

“It’s such a fun environment here when things are starting to line up: The weather’s incredible, we’re playing a good team, Tarik Skubal’s on the mound, the team’s playing a lot better,” Hinch said. “And we respond. What a fun night.”