The Detroit Tigers, who once eyed the Central Division crown, are perhaps just glad to be in the postseason after last month. Before Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Red Sox, the Tigers had lost 21 of their last 29 games. They’ve struggled massively in the recent stretch, and now they’ve chosen to play it safe with their only true ace, Tarik Skubal. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch had already made it known that he wouldn’t send Skubal to the mound unless it was absolutely necessary to get into the postseason.

So, the 28-year-old is in line to be the Game 1 starter in Round 1 of the playoffs. With a 13-6 record, Skubal holds a 2.21 ERA across 195⅓ innings this season. The Tigers have had a 21-10 record in his 31 starts. It’s only natural that he’s been watched closely around the league. Of course, since the Tigers’ third base coach Joey has a family connection to Red Sox manager Alex Cora, Cora has gotten a pretty good read on Skubal and Co.

He offered a candid take on Detroit’s stumble as of late: “It’s been tough to watch, to be honest with you. It’s the total opposite of last year. But they still have a chance, right? And if they make it, they have a true ace in a short series. So, they’re a good team. They’re a really good team. We’ll see what happens in the upcoming days.” If we look at the Tigers, they are a little more subdued than last year. They’ve looked like that after choking away the 9½-game lead in the AL Central Division they had earlier this month.

“But talking to my brother throughout, it’s been a grind for them. It’s been. Yesterday was tough for them. So we’ll see. We’ll see,” Cora added. On Friday night, the Tigers had blown a massive 14-game lead in the AL Central and an eighth-inning lead that would have secured their spot a day earlier.

Further, if the Tigers secure Sunday’s game and the Cleveland Guardians win the division, then the Tigers would hold the tiebreaker over Boston in terms of seeding.

Yet, they are still one of the 12 teams with odds to win the 2025 World Series. For that, their ace, Tarik Skubal, is ready to do what it takes.

Tarik Skubal gets a rest day as the Tigers face the Red Sox for the finale

Tarik Skubal, who has worked throughout this season to be a Cy Young favorite, and the Tigers will be making the most of him on Tuesday. But for the finale against the Red Sox, they will give him some rest.

He will be finishing his 2025 season with a 2.21 ERA and 0.89 WHIP, while striking out 241 batters over 195.1 innings in 31 starts. It could be tough for the Tigers to dominate the Red Sox without their hard-throwing lefty. Well, Skubal was sensational in the 2024 playoffs. As it seems, if he’s playing directly on Tuesday, then he should deliver the Tigers a substantial edge in Game 1. However, it’s yet to be known where he’ll pitch and how long the series will go.

After all the frustrating losses, the Detroit Tigers’ playoff berth was finalized on Saturday in Boston. Prior to that game, Skubal was asked what he would do if the Tigers ended up losing.

“I’m not staying up and watching (the Astros-Angels). I’ll be asleep. Hopefully someone bangs on my door, and that means we’re in,” he said. The thing is, if the Guardians secure both Saturday night and Sunday’s game, then the Detroit Tigers will lose the AL Central, regardless of their final result. Who do you think will come out on top? Let us know in the comments!