When the Detroit Tigers’ game with the Pittsburgh Pirates was rained out on Wednesday night, it felt like the gods were doing baseball fans a favor. Before the heavens opened up, it appeared that fans would miss out on the opportunity to see Pirates ace Paul Skenes battle Detroit’s reigning Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. But Wednesday’s rainout pushed Skubal back one day and for a moment, it appeared the fans were going to get a blockbuster pitching matchup at Comerica Park.
Unfortunately, the Tigers decided to have Skubal throw the first game, and the Pirates will throw Skenes out for the second game as part of Thursday’s doubleheader. While fans bemoaned the fact they wouldn’t be getting a showdown between two of the game’s best pitchers, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch gave his reasoning when speaking to reporters before the first game.
Tarik Skubal Insisted He Pitch the First Game of Tigers Doubleheader
Evan Petzold was among a group of reporters to ask about Hinch’s decision to throw Skubal in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader. It turns out Skubal is just as intimidating in the manager’s office as he is on the mound, as he made the decision to start the opener to make sure he could maintain his pregame routine.
“I’ll make it really simple from our standpoint. I went to Tarik and asked him which game he wanted. He said ‘The early one,’” Hinch said. “At that point, we’re going to lock in Tarik for the game that he can prepare for. I don’t know what went into their decision – why Skenes is in Game 2 versus Game 1. …[But] I’m going to take care of my guy and let the baseball work itself out how it does.”
Why didn't we get Tarik Skubal vs. Paul Skenes in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader between the #Tigers and Pirates?
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) June 19, 2025
Here's what A.J. Hinch said: pic.twitter.com/gTL3SFpiVR
Skubal’s discretion is a good line to follow considering the season he’s having. After taking home hardware in 2024, Skubal is in consideration to become the first repeat Cy Young Award winner since Jacob deGrom did it for the New York Mets in 2018 and 2019 and the first American League pitcher since Pedro Martinez did it for the Boston Red Sox in 1999 and 2000.
With Skubal’s 7-2 record and 1.99 ERA, it made for a dream matchup going up against Skenes, who is the reigning National League Rookie of the Year and is 4-6 with a 1.78 ERA in his first 15 starts. But the Pirates may not have wanted to go up against Skubal, considering they are 7-8 when Skenes starts this season.
While fans would be eager for the matchup, it may not be as exciting in the clubhouse. Tigers outfielder Riley Greene told Petzold “I don’t care” when asked about what may have been and Hinch reiterated that Skubal knows what’s best to be prepared for a start.
“I’m going to take care of my guy and let the baseball work itself out how it does,” Hinch said. “I guess I could have gone to Tarik and said, ‘Hey, Skenes is pitching Game 2, so you’re going to move to Game 2.’ And I can imagine, while cool, he would have said, ‘I’m going to pitch Game 1.’”
Perhaps if the Tigers were in the middle of a lost season, it might have been a bigger deal. But Detroit has its sights set on a second straight postseason berth and something other than a dream matchup in the middle of June.