The Detroit Tigers took on the Seattle Mariners in a do-or-die Game 5 of the American League Divisional Series on Friday, Oct. 10.
The Tigers tapped pitcher Tarik Skubal to start. The 2024 AL Cy Young winner, who’s considered a lock to win the award again in 2025, shared his approach to the elimination game.
“I’ll let you guys create the narrative,” he told reporters on Oct. 9 “I’m gonna just do what I do best, and that’s play baseball and try to execute pitches. That’s when I’m at my best.”
RELATED: Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal’s rarely seen pregame ritual with wife, son is uncovered
Oct. 10, 2025: Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws against Mariners during the first inning of ALDS Game 5 at T-Mobile Park. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Skubal went on to make MLB history against the Mariners. He struck out seven consecutive batters — the most consecutive strikeouts by a pitcher in postseason game.
The 28-year-old ace also recorded a total of 13 strikeouts, the most ever by a pitcher in a winner-take-all game.
The most strikeouts EVER by a pitcher in a winner-take-all #Postseason game!
Tarik Skubal: OTHERWORLDLY ๐ซก pic.twitter.com/rO5kx7o2VL
โ MLB (@MLB) October 11, 2025
After Skubal left the mound, however, the Mariners tied it up in the seventh inning, bringing the score to 2-2. Winner moves on to face the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series.
Helping cheer on the Tigers at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Skubal’s family. In an adorable moment before the game started, Skubal grabbed his eldest son Kasen before taking the mound.
The Tigers pitcher is married to Jessica Skubal. The high school sweethearts tied the knot in Phoenix, Arizona in November 2021. After they welcomed Kasen in Oct. 2023, Jessica gave birth to their second son, Klay, this summer.
BREAKING: Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal has been placed on the MLB paternity list to join his wife for the birth of their 2nd child
๐ pic.twitter.com/nR2sBefmcB
โ ๐๐ฅ๐ข ๐๐ข๐ฑ๐ฏ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ฑ ๐๐ฆ๐ช๐ข๐ฐ ๐ฐ (@the_det_times) July 23, 2025
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