Tigers' Tarik Skubal is due for a break in later innings of his starts

TL;DR

Tarik Skubal has a sub-1 WHIP and sub-3 ERA, showing strong performance on the mound. He has triggered no-hit watches in his last four starts, including a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Marlins.

Key points

Tarik Skubal has a sub-1 WHIP
Skubal's ERA is below 3
He limited hitters to a .589 OPS
He triggered no-hit watches in his last four starts
Skubal had a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Marlins

Tarik SkubalBravesBrewersRed Sox

Atlanta — Make no mistake, Tarik Skubal is still doing Tarik Skubal-like things on the mound.

He enters his start against the Braves Wednesday night with a sub-1 WHIP and a sub-3 ERA. He’s limiting hitters to a .589 OPS with minimal slug (.328). And he's been triggering no-hit watches in his last four starts:

▶ Eleven straight outs to start the game against the Brewers.

▶ Four no-hit innings against the Red Sox.

▶ No-hitter into the sixth inning against the Marlins.

▶ Four scoreless innings against the Twins.

Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal walks through the dugout after a pitching change and Brewers tie the game in the seventh inning.

But — there’s always a but — with the exception of the Marlins start, the others didn’t end like Skubal would like. Against the Brewers, he lost a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning.

It’s not an issue. It’s not a concern. It’s just curious. Opponents are hitting .433 with a 1.104 OPS against him the third time through the order. His OPS against from pitches 76-100 is 1.095.

“I hate to write things off as unlucky when there’s something to learn from it,” Skubal said Tuesday. “But, like in that seventh inning, those hits ... I’m doing my job suppressing contact.”

True. The Brewers parlayed a pop fly behind second base, 73-mph exit velocity, that landed in front of Matt Vierling and Wenceel Perez, an 82.7-mph seeing-eye single and a sharply-struck double into a three-run rally.

“I don’t put much stock into, honestly,” he said. “If we field a bunt and get outs. If they hit a ground ball four feet to the left, it’s an out. If I replay that seventh inning and execute the way I did, I probably get three outs more often than not and I’m going back out for the eighth.”

Q&A

What are Tarik Skubal's current pitching statistics?

Tarik Skubal has a sub-1 WHIP and a sub-3 ERA, indicating strong pitching performance.

How many no-hit innings has Tarik Skubal pitched recently?

Skubal has pitched no-hit innings in his last four starts, including four no-hit innings against the Red Sox.

Which teams did Tarik Skubal face during his recent no-hit watches?

Skubal faced the Brewers, Red Sox, and Marlins during his recent no-hit watches.

What is a WHIP in baseball and why is it important?

WHIP stands for Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched, and it's important as it measures a pitcher's effectiveness in preventing batters from reaching base.