Game 31 Preview: Tigers look to even up series at Braves behind Skubal

The Detroit Tigers opened up their three-game weekday series against the Atlanta Braves after a disappointing 5-2 loss at Truist Park on Tuesday night. Adding insult to… um, injury, was losing Casey Mize to right groin tightness and Javier Báez to a bum right ankle.

Both will undergo MRIs prior to Wednesday night’s game to assess the extent of their respective injuries.

Speaking of Wednesday, the Motor City Kitties have a chance to even up the series behind their ace lefty, Tarik Skubal, who is once again on pace for another superlative campaign. So far, the 29-year-old hurler has gone at least six innings in five of his starts and allowed just one run in four of them; the two others saw him cough up four, including his last outing against the Milwaukee Brewers.

It has been a while since Skubal has seen the Braves, with his last appearance coming in Atlanta on June 19, 2024. He did not fare too well in that matchup, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits (two home runs) while walking two, hitting two and striking out seven over four frames of work in the loss.

The home team will send rookie JR Ritchie, who has just one major league appearance under his belt so far, to the bump to battle the Tigers. The former first-round pick’s ERA to FIP gap certainly raises an eyebrow but his overall peripherals look pretty tidy coming into the matchup.

Take a look at what each starter brings to the table on Wednesday.