Tarik Skubal probably wishes he could turn back time after the Detroit Tigers’ nail-biting loss to the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the ALDS. They were only seven outs from victory, capping a season filled with unexpected highs and gutsy performances, but one pitch changed everything. With the Tigers clinging to a slim lead, Skubal’s fifth-inning grand slam sent Progressive Field roaring and ended Detroit’s postseason dreams.
“I’d love to have it back,” Skubal admitted to The New York Times, reflecting on that single pitch—a middle-middle sinker that Lane Thomas crushed, swinging the momentum entirely in Cleveland’s favor. The Tigers went just 2-for-23 with runners in scoring position over the last two games, managing only two hits in those crucial moments and racking up a staggering 39 swings-and-misses. In Game 5 alone, they struck out 16 times, leaving Tigers fans with a bittersweet feeling after such a promising season.
Skubal embodied the fight of Detroit’s young squad throughout his postseason run, delivering 17 scoreless innings before this fateful pitch. He was masterful for much of the game, attacking the Guardians’ lineup with every ounce of grit, until a string of small plays—an Andrés Giménez single, Steven Kwan’s perfectly placed grounder, and a hit-by-pitch—set up the devastating grand slam.
But let’s not overlook what this season has meant for Detroit. With the youngest position players in the league, the Tigers pulled off 86 wins—their best in eight years—and brought postseason energy back to a city that had been waiting a decade for October baseball. Skubal proved himself a force on the mound, Riley Greene became an All-Star, and manager A.J. Hinch reminded everyone that once you get a taste of October, you’re always hungry for more.
So, did Skubal’s pitch cost Detroit a shot at glory, or was it just the cruel nature of baseball? Fans and analysts will be debating that all offseason, but one thing’s clear: this Tigers team has something special. With an ace like Skubal, a core of young talent, and a hunger to go even further, is this just the start of a new era for Detroit baseball? Let us know what you think: will they keep this momentum going, or was this season a magical blip?
