Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal said the team must play better baseball or risk front office reassessment at the trade deadline. The club has posted an 11-6 record this month while sitting at 33-44 overall.
Skubal, the two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner and impending free agent, made the comments to the Detroit News last week. He noted that continued struggles could give the front office reason to consider trades.
The Tigers have shown signs of turnaround in June. Their pitching staff owns the majors' second-lowest ERA at 3.12, and the lineup ranks second in home runs with 35. Catcher Dillon Dingler and rookie Kevin McGonigle have stood out, while the bullpen ERA has dropped to 2.59.
Playoff odds have risen to 22 percent at FanGraphs, up from 10 percent at the end of May. Detroit remains five games out of a wild-card spot and 7.5 games behind first place in the AL Central.
Six of the next 10 games are against the New York Yankees, including a series this week in Detroit. Skubal is scheduled to start Wednesday.
