Tarik Skubal is the best pitcher in baseball: What we learned from MLB wild-card Game 1s

October is here, and the only sure thing in baseball is that it’s going to be wild. Fittingly, the postseason began Tuesday with four wild-card games.

Day 1 certainly hasn’t disappointed so far, with the Tigers, Royals and Mets all winning on the road.

FOX Sports MLB Writers Deesha Thosar again Rowan Kavner they will provide top takers for all acts.

Let the games begin!

METS 8, Brewers 4

The Mets continued to win their way

A boring, straight Mets playoff win? Those who are not allowed to attend? After all the surprises of Monday’s doubleheader, taking Game 1 against the Brewers, especially with Edwin Diaz likely unavailable after back-to-back days of hard work, was just the buzz they needed to put it in Milwaukee.

Two things are clear to me about this win. First, Luis Severino did a great job of making changes in the game and getting back into rhythm after giving up two runs in the first inning. The right-hander can be prone to his postseason exit, evidenced by his 5.15 ERA in 11 playoff starts with the Yankees, but he didn’t melt down, and he didn’t let the game get away from him Tuesday. That was important to keep New York’s offense in the game.

Second, it was a news-book ending to Francisco Lindor crushing that ninth-inning home run against the Braves on Sunday, but the truth is that the Mets are in the playoffs because, all year, they’ve relied on the entire system to come through. . Freddy Peralta was pulled after just four innings on 68 pitches in Game 1.

The Mets are at their best when guys like Mark Vientos, who pitched well in the fifth, and Jesse Winker, who tied the game with a two-RBI triple in the second, contribute. In a season marked by team performance, New York continues to pass the baton and find new heroes to deliver the best songs. – Deesha Thosar

TIGERS 3, ASTROS 1

Tiger got the game he was supposed to have

As impressive as their postseason run was — they went an MLB-best 31-13 in their last 44 games and led the majors with a 2.72 ERA during that span — what was equally impressive was how they did it, with ace Tarik Skubal serving as a workhorse. of a patchwork rotation made up primarily of shortstops with multiple innings. That’s what October will be, too. As manager AJ Hinch told reporters before the wild-card series, “Our plan, just to give you an idea, is Tarik Skubal tomorrow and cause chaos all the way.”

The Tigers have clearly shown they can overcome that chaos, but it’s hard to count on the mayhem. Winning the Skubal match felt right. He provided one sure thing in the Detroit cycle, and in his first career playoff appearance, the three-time crown winner did it.

Now, things are going to get interesting. The Tigers have other true starters they could use on the roster, including Reese Olson and Casey Mize, but chances are the next day (or two) will feature a bevy of arms. Expect to see good value from Tyler Holton — he had a 0.83 ERA in the second half and threw just two pitches in Game 1 — and a chance to close it out.

For the Astros, it’s not time to panic. They have a clear hand in the rotation all the way, and experience is on their side. But the young Tigers, in the dance for the first time since 2014 after a hot year, don’t seem fazed. – Rowan Kavner

Related: FOX Sports’ final MLB schedule: AL edition, NL program | Why your team will – and won’t – win the 2024 World Series

Skubal may be starting

Tarik Skubal and the Tigers absolutely came to play. Even minus the fact that it’s Detroit it was necessary to win Game 1 with their ace on the mound, this young and hungry team made it clear that it would be tough to get through the rest of the series, too.

While Skubal’s dangerous arsenal and shooting attitude was nothing new, what stood out to me was the advantage he gave himself with quick throws. With that quick delivery, Skubal can easily repeat his pitches and give hitters less time to adjust to what’s next. His six scoreless innings on Tuesday made it easy to see how he earned the pitcher’s triple crown. – Deesha Thosar

ROYALS 1, ORIOLES 0

You must feel like déjà vu in In Baltimore

This is what the Orioles saw in Corbin Burnes when they traded for the ace this winter. In the biggest game of the season, he went eight innings for the first time this year. He held the Royals’ opposing offense to one run. It should have been enough to start the postseason on a better note than last year for the Orioles.

It wasn’t like that.

And for an Orioles team that has now lost nine straight postseason games, the memories of last year’s sweep should linger.

For Baltimore to live up to its expectations in October, the offense needs to lead the way. Meanwhile, the malaise continued. The Orioles ranked second in the American League in OPS this season but 15th in the majors from the start of July through the end of the year. Of course, Baltimore also had a losing record at the time. They have 24 hours to try to find it again, and the job doesn’t get any easier as they go from seeing Cole Ragans to Seth Lugo. – Rowan Kavner

Check back later for Braves-Padres commentary.

Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously applied The Mets as a beat reporter for New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow him on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the LA Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, raised in Texas, and returned to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

---

---