There was something in the air that night—more than just the buzz of 40,000 fans packed into a stadium under the lights. It was not a postseason game; however, it sure did not look like June baseball either. The Tigers had all the momentum, and the Cubs seemed to be second-guessing every move. By the end, the steadiest voice, the Cubs Manager, cracked from a helpless kind of honesty. What unfolded was not just about a final score—it was a confession.

Before the long-awaited game between the Tigers and Cubs on Saturday, Craig Counsell, typically analytical and reserved, did not wait until the final pitch to acknowledge what the Cubs were up against. Highlighting the previous night’s battle with Tarik Skubal, the manager said, “He truly challenges hitters… His stuff is overwhelming enough where you just do not square it up.” Coming from Counsell, known for his poise, this was not a throwaway sentence—it was an early confession that spoke volumes related to the task ahead.

Skubal’s Friday night was truly elite. Over 7.2 innings, the star gave up just one run, walked none, and struck out six while pounding the strike zone with ruthless precision. The left-hander delivered a whopping 17 first-pitch strikes. Counsell noted that the Cubs’ hitters were not chasing bad pitches; they were swinging at the right ones.

However, as the manager added, “We missed some pitches… and that is ultimately why we did not score.” It was not poor discipline; it was the overpowering execution of Skubal that shut the offense down.

Shifting from praise to comparison, the manager sought to shine light on his rising star. Counsell praised Ben Brown’s outing and described it as “the best fastball of the year” from the young pitcher. He also said that Brown’s outing matched Skubal’s velocity. “Ben can go toe-to-toe stuff-wise with anybody,” Counsell added. The Cubs had the stars to match; however, the team did not have the answer.

While the Cubs were analyzing their failure, the Tigers had a very distinctive tone in their team—one of clarity, conviction, and quiet confidence.

A.J. Hinch drops the mic as Tigers dismiss underdog talk 

A.J. Hinch did not need fireworks to highlight his thoughts—just one reminder of who the Tigers have become. After watching the team dismantle the Cubs behind Skubal’s power and a wave of clutch at-bats, the manager shot down any talk of the Tigers being a surprise story. “I appreciate the thought of raising the bar,” Hinch said to the reporters, “but the bar is pretty high around here.”

The win felt like a blueprint of everything Hinch had quietly built. Skubal’s 7.2 innings of surgical dominance set the tone, but it did not stop there. Spencer Torkelson launched a home run, and a flurry of two-out hits in the fifth gave Detroit just enough breathing room. Even though the bullpen boosted under pressure, Will Vest locked the deal by sealing down his 10th save against Seiya Suzuki with the game on the line. When every part of a roster hits like that, it is not luck. It is identity.

And that identity is being hammered out through consistency. Hinch made it clear this team is not waiting for respect; they are demanding it amidst performance. “I really appreciate our players bringing it every day,” he said, commenting on a clubhouse that is done with seeking outside validation. From giving Malloy a big return moment to handing Vest a critical save opportunity, Hinch’s moves show a manager who believes in the core, not the hype.

The Cubs are still trying to figure things out, staring down a rotation they could not solve and a lineup that made them pay in key spots. It was not just a win. It was a message. The Tigers are not sneaking up on anyone anymore, they are here, loud and clear, and A.J. Hinch is making sure the baseball world knows it.

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