The Week Ahead for Atlanta: The one where Tarik Skubal comes to town

TL;DR

The Atlanta Braves face the Detroit Tigers and Colorado Rockies in upcoming series. Tarik Skubal, a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner, will be a key challenge for the Braves against the Tigers.

Key points

Atlanta Braves are currently leading their division.
Braves face the Detroit Tigers with Tarik Skubal pitching.
Tigers have a competitive lineup including Kevin McGonigle and Riley Greene.
Braves will also play the Colorado Rockies after the Tigers series.

Atlanta BravesDetroit TigersColorado RockiesTarik Skubal

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 18: Starting pitcher Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers throws in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 18, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images Baseball life is good for the Atlanta Braves at the moment. They’ve already put a gap between them and the rest of the division and the gap keeps growing between them and the Phillies and the Mets as well. The vibes are very positive and the week ahead for the Braves could be a promising one if everything goes according to plan. With that being said, there’s always reason to take any opponent seriously — and yes, that includes the Colorado Rockies, who would love nothing more than to make a statement of their own at the expense of our Braves. Before Atlanta can get to Colorado, they’ll have to deal with one of the main favorites in the AL Central and their All-World caliber pitcher in the form of two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner, Tarik Skubal. It’s time to take a look at what’s in store for the Braves for this coming week.

April 28-30: Detroit Tigers

***Current Record:** 15-14 **Projected Record (via FanGraphs):** 85-77* Don’t let Detroit’s current record fool you — this’ll likely be a tough series for the Braves and it’s mostly due to the fact that they’ll be catching three really good starters from the Tigers. will be entering his start on Tuesday with a very good track record so far. He’s made five starts and he’s given up one or fewer runs in four of those starts. ’s metrics (particularly his xERA and xBA) suggest that the Braves could do some damage against him but if they get stuck in a ground ball vortex against him on Thursday afternoon, watch out. Tarik Skubal is, well, Tarik Skubal. Granted, he has had a couple of starts where he’s looked human but if he gets on a roll, it’ll basically just be a matter of waiting until Detroit’s currently-struggling bullpen gets involved and hoping that continues to do a good job of limiting runs, himself. When it comes to Detroit’s lineup, they’ve got a nice little core going. Kevin McGonigle is the new hotness around here and the 21-year-old has gotten off to a blazing start at the plate as a big leaguer. has also done his fair share of mashing as well. leads the team in homers and is not to far behind him as well. has also been getting his fair share of knocks when called upon. This will be similar to what the Braves had to deal with against the Nationals, as Detroit has some eerily-similar plate numbers to what Washington is putting up right now. If that’s the case, then Elder, and JR Ritchie will have their hands full trying to keep this lineup quiet. Tuesday, April 28 at 7:15 p.m. ET *(BravesVision)* Wednesday, April 29 at 7:15 p.m. ET *(BravesVision, TBS (out-of-market only))* Thursday, April 30 at 12:15 p.m. ET *(BravesVision)*

Q&A

What is Tarik Skubal's significance in the upcoming Braves vs Tigers series?

Tarik Skubal is a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner and a major challenge for the Braves as they face the Tigers.

When do the Atlanta Braves play the Detroit Tigers?

The Braves play the Tigers from April 28 to April 30, 2026.

What are the current records of the Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers?

The Atlanta Braves have a record of 15-14, while the Detroit Tigers also have a record of 15-14.

How have the Colorado Rockies performed at home this season?

The Colorado Rockies have a team wRC+ of 89 at Coors Field, hitting .275/.334/.444 with a .344 wOBA.