Tarik Skubal and Zack Wheeler both struck out 10, but it wasn't really a pitcher's duel

For much of Saturday's game between the Detroit Tigers and Phillies, the much-anticipated pitching matchup between Tarik Skubal and Zack Wheeler felt very one-sided. 

Skubal won last year's AL Cy Young, and the Detroit Tigers' lefty showed across the first six innings of his outing Sunday why he appears to be en route to becoming the first junior circuit arm to repeat as the award winner since Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000: 

Tarik Skubal, Elevated 98mph ⛽️...and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/lIQPcjpiRT

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 2, 2025

But after allowing only two hits through his first six innings of work, Skubal gave up an RBI double to J.T. Realmuto and a two-run home run to Nick Castellanos in the seventh frame: 

Nick Castellanos goes deep to the deepest part of the park off of Tarik Skubal 💣

pic.twitter.com/sjU1kLpBfL

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) August 2, 2025

Skubal still completed seven innings and struck out 10, while issuing zero walks. His ERA on the season remains at a minuscule 2.18, and he leads all pitchers with a 5.7 WAR, per FanGraphs. But through the first six innings, Skubal seemed likely to go eight or nine. An ugly seventh inning will keep Saturday from being one of the defining performances of Skubal's season. 

Still, Skubal ultimately earned his 11th win of the year in a 7-5 Tigers win over the Phillies. 

That's in large part because Wheeler surrendered nine hits and three home runs over six-plus innings. Wheeler did strike out 10 batters, giving him his 31st career double-digit strikeout, and sixth this season. But Colt Keith and Kerry Carpenter combined to hit 777 feet of home runs in the third inning. And after Wheeler successfully lobbied Rob Thomson to let him go back out for the seventh inning, Javier Báez wound up sending him to the showers with a two-run home run that followed an Otto Kemp error. 

Zack Wheeler says he lobbied Rob Thomson to go back out for the seventh inning.

(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/9QJ6CPTyyu

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) August 2, 2025

Wheeler has earned the benefit of the doubt, but he's definitely gotten off to a slow start in the second half. Wheeler now has a 4.58 ERA in his first trio of starts after earning his third career All-Star Game selection. Prior to the Midsummer Classic, Wheeler had a 2.36 ERA over 19 starts. If he wants to have any shot at catching Paul Skenes and finally winning the NL Cy Young Award that's eluded his grasp in recent years, he needs to get back on track quickly. 

Overall, there were moments where Skubal looked like the most dominant pitcher on the planet Sunday, while Wheeler struggled. There may one day — perhaps in October — be a great pitcher's duel between these two aces. But Saturday wasn't it. 

Bryce Harper on Tarik Skubal: “He had our number today.”

(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/FwvHisyVCy

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) August 2, 2025

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