Yankees Hold Off Skubal and Tigers
DETROIT — If Tarik Skubal is traded later this summer, the Yankees are set to be among a growing list of interested teams.
How serious their interest might be, considering their immediate needs, is still unclear.
However, if Skubal achieves success elsewhere, the Yankees can take comfort in having a competitive edge, complemented by a recent winning record against him.
In Skubal’s third outing since being on the disabled list, the Yankees accomplished something no other team has achieved against him since 2021—hitting three home runs, including two courtesy of Paul Goldschmidt, leading to a 4-2 win over the Tigers at Comerica Park.
Against the Tigers’ left-handed pitchers, the Yankees allowed only four hits over six innings, though three of those hits were erased. Skubal struck out seven of the Yankees’ last nine batters up to the sixth inning. Following a single from Ben Rice, Yason Dominguez hit his first two-run homer of the season from the right side, breaking a 2-2 deadlock.
Goldschmidt was instrumental, scoring the first two runs and hitting a significant deep base hit. Remarkably, he has gone 7-for-13 in his career against Skubal, with a total of four home runs, tying him for the most against the pitcher.
In the meantime, Ryan Weathers managed to outpitch Skubal in their duel of southpaws, giving up just two runs, one of which was earned, in six innings. Following the game, he headed to Boston for a four-game series against the Red Sox.
Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, and David Bednar provided three scoreless innings in relief to secure the win. Bednar, who executed a four-out save the previous day, is now on an 11-game streak without allowing a run.
Skubal might become a focal point in the trade market this summer if the Tigers can’t recover from their tough start to the season. He demonstrated dominance for significant stretches during Wednesday’s game.
Goldschmidt’s two home runs were critical, especially as they advanced the Yankees in the sixth inning, before Skubal finally bested him with a 100 mph fastball in their ninth matchup.
However, Dominguez, who struck out in his first two at-bats against Skubal, made a notable impact by connecting on a full count changeup for a two-run homer.
Earlier, Max Schumann, making his third career start in center field, played an essential role in maintaining the 2-2 tie.
Kevin McGonigle opened the inning with a double to deep center. Schumann almost made the catch, but the ball slipped off his glove.
Fortunately for the Yankees, Weathers quickly took care of McGonigle, forcing him out at third base with a well-placed chopper.
Later, Schumann made a diving catch in the left-center gap, and followed it up with a sliding grab in the right-center gap, helping solidify the victory.
