Tarik Skubal, though born in California and raised in Arizona, considers Seattle a special place.
The Detroit Tigers’ left-hander and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner will look to continue his mastery of the host Mariners when he takes the mound in the finale of a three-game series Wednesday afternoon.
Skubal played collegiately at Seattle University, the only NCAA Division I school to offer him a scholarship. He took in part of the Redhawks’ 8-7 victory against the University of British Columbia on Tuesday afternoon before heading to the ballpark in Seattle.
Once in the visiting clubhouse, he flipped through old pictures in his phone to find one taken when Seattle University played a game at T-Mobile Park.
“I’ve got a picture in this locker right here,” Skubal said. “It was me taking a selfie, just being a kid … and now that it’s your life, it’s pretty cool. I don’t think that kid who sat in this locker and ate finger foods and got to be a big-leaguer for a day — there’s no chance he would’ve thought he’d be sitting here doing this right now.”
The Tigers gave Skubal permission to spend some time Tuesday to be honored by his alma mater on Tarik Skubal Night. He mingled with Seattle University players, coaches and alumni.
“I’ll try to say hi to as many (people) as I can,” Skubal said. “It’s tough to predict days that you pitch in terms of trying to plan that … but hopefully I can convince all those people to come back the next day.”
The Tigers will look to complete a three-game sweep of the Mariners after posting 9-6 and 4-1 victories the past two nights.
Detroit has scored multiple runs in the first inning of both games and hasn’t trailed. Riley Greene homered in both games, and Casey Mize and three relievers combined on a one-hitter Tuesday.
Mize allowed a leadoff single to Victor Robles in the bottom of the first and then a one-out walk before retiring 14 consecutive batters.
“He had a hard time getting into rhythm, and then he fell into an incredible rhythm,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said of Mize. “He had the split going, both variations of the slider, and was efficient … we felt like we had a bigger lead because of the way Casey was throwing.”
The Mariners have scored two or fewer runs in four of six games this season.
“A difficult one (Tuesday),” manager Dan Wilson said. “We couldn’t get anything going offensively.”
Skubal (0-1, 7.20 ERA) gave up a pair of homers Thursday in losing his Opening Day start in Los Angeles against the defending World Series champion Dodgers. He will oppose Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo (0-1, 3.60).
Skubal is 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA in three career starts against Seattle; Castillo is 0-4 with a 4.03 ERA in five starts vs. the Tigers.
Whatever happens, Skubal already knows what his postgame meal will be. The Tigers have arranged to have the clubhouse spread catered by Tacos Chukis, a popular taqueria known for its street tacos and one of Skubal’s favorite spots in the city.
“I want to eat it after I pitch and not before,” Skubal told reporters with a chuckle.
–Field Level Media
