New details emerging after the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ blockbuster trade for two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal reveal it was Detroit, not Los Angeles, that pushed to finalize the deal in its closing hours.

Dodgers executives were reportedly wrapping up an internal strategy session Saturday evening when Tigers officials called to say they wanted to close the Skubal trade that night. Los Angeles had taken an unusually thorough approach to deadline preparation this year, leaning more heavily than usual on input from pro scouts and internal evaluators, with much of the front office flying in for in-person meetings that Friday.

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and Tigers general manager Scott Harris reportedly hammered out final terms in the middle of Los Angeles’ game against the Red Sox that night.

Detroit ultimately sent Skubal west for a three-prospect package: outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith, all drawn from the Dodgers’ farm system without touching the major league roster.

Notably, the deal was a pure rental — Skubal is set to become a free agent after this season — yet the Tigers reportedly spent little time negotiating with other suitors, including the Tampa Bay Rays, once it became clear the Dodgers’ farm system was the return they wanted.

The Athletic’s reporting indicates Detroit believed Los Angeles simply “had the most to offer” and would move with a level of aggression that other interested clubs weren’t willing to match.

One team notably out of the running: the Milwaukee Brewers, despite fielding a farm system regarded as one of the sport’s best. Milwaukee — enjoying a strong season and eyeing its own playoff push — has historically avoided aggressive rental deals at the deadline, a philosophy that held even with Skubal on the table.

The trade adds another star to an already star-studded Dodgers roster, prompting debate among rival executives and analysts over both the return Detroit accepted and the wisdom of further stacking a Los Angeles team already built for a deep postseason run. Skubal is expected to make his Dodgers debut this week.

Cleveland Guardians‘ hitter David Fry suffered a broken nose and facial fractures while in a game against the Detroit Tigers from a 99-mph fastball to the face from Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal. He was hit while trying to bunt, but missed and immediately fell to the ground and grabbed his bloody face. Guardians’ Manager Stephan Vogt stated, “He is OK, and is expected to return in six to eight weeks.”

The Guardians were up (3-2) in the sixth and looking strong when Fry went up to bat and attempted to bunt the ball. He barely missed and was hit square in the face. Skubal, along with Vogt and trainers, frantically ran over to help him, while Fry lay in the batter’s box, bloodied and in pain, for several minutes before slowly getting up and giving a thumbs-up to signal that he was ok. He was then brought to the hospital for examination shortly after.

Despite the traumatic event, the Guardians capitalized and won the game (5-2). After Fry left the field, George Valera came on as a pinch hitter. He struck out, but Cleveland did not give up. Still in the sixth inning, a rattled Skubal threw a wild pitch, allowing Angel Martínez to score from third base. He then also committed a balk, allowing Cleveland to tie the game and keep their momentum alive.

Fortunately, Fry does not need surgery and will fully recover soon. The Guardians placed Fry on the 10-day injured list and recalled outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez to fill his spot. Fry’s absence leaves a gap in the Guardians’ lineup, as he is capable of contributing both defensively and offensively.

The Detroit Tigers are building off their 2024 season with the best record in all of baseball and one of the most dominant pitching rooms in the league.

At the All-Star break of the 2024 season, Detroit was 44-49, and they traded one of their starting pitchers, Jack Flaherty, to the Los Angeles Dodgers. After most of the baseball world wrote them off, Detroit went on a magical run, finishing with 86 wins and making a run to the ALDS, where they lost a win-or-go-home game against the Cleveland Guardians.

Detroit looked to capitalize on its stellar finish in 2024 by making some big moves in free agency. They signed second baseman Gleyber Torres and relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle from the New York Yankees. They also brought in Alex Cobb to add to their bullpen, and they brought Flaherty back despite trading him a few months prior.

Fast forward to this season, Detroit has the best record in the MLB, led by one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. They also have a consistent offense, which has led to a recipe for success through a little over one-third of the season.

The Tigers’ pitching room, led by 2024 AL Cy Young Award winner and current 2025 front-runner Tarik Skubal, has been on a roll this season. Detroit ranks in the top five in Walks plus Hits per Innings Pitched with 1.17 and ERA with 3.19.

Detroit has only given up 482 hits, and they hold their opponents to a batting average of .228, which ranks in the top 10. They also have the third most games won by their starting pitchers with 25.

Other notable pitchers for Detroit include starters Casey Mize, Reese Olson, and Flaherty. Some of their top relievers are Will Vest, Chase Lee, Brant Hurter and Kahnle.

Despite Detroit’s pitching being a significant reason why they have the best record in baseball, their offense is not to be overlooked. They’re in the top five for RBIs with 303 and hits with 544.

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They also rank inside the top 10 in home runs with 74 and slugging percentage with .408. Detroit ranks just outside the top 10 in batting average with .251 and on-base percentage with .323.

If the pitching room can continue to look like one of the best in baseball and the offense can remain consistent for the remainder of the season, Detroit will be a tough matchup for any team that has to face them in October.

Detroit Tigers Schedule & Tickets

• June 19: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
• June 19: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
• June 20: at Tampa Bay Rays
• June 21: at Tampa Bay Rays
• June 22: at Tampa Bay Rays
• June 24: vs. Athletics
• June 25: vs. Athletics
• June 26: vs. Athletics
• June 27: vs. Minnesota Twins
• June 28: vs. Minnesota Twins
• June 29: vs. Minnesota Twins
• July 1: at Washington Nationals
• July 2: at Washington Nationals
• July 3: at Washington Nationals
• July 4: at Cleveland Guardians
• July 5: at Cleveland Guardians
• July 6: at Cleveland Guardians
• July 7: vs. Tampa Bay Rays
• July 8: vs. Tampa Bay Rays
• July 9: vs. Tampa Bay Rays
• July 11: vs. Seattle Mariners
• July 12: vs. Seattle Mariners
• July 13: vs. Seattle Mariners
• July 18: at Texas Rangers
• July 19: at Texas Rangers
• July 20: at Texas Rangers
• July 21: at Pittsburgh Pirates
• July 22: at Pittsburgh Pirates
• July 23: at Pittsburgh Pirates
• July 24: vs. Toronto Blue Jays
• July 25: vs. Toronto Blue Jays
• July 26: vs. Toronto Blue Jays
• July 27: vs. Toronto Blue Jays
• July 28: vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
• July 29: vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
• July 30: vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
• August 1: at Philadelphia Phillies
• August 2: at Philadelphia Phillies
• August 3: at Philadelphia Phillies
• August 4: vs. Minnesota Twins
• August 5: vs. Minnesota Twins
• August 6: vs. Minnesota Twins
• August 8: vs Los Angeles Angels
• August 9: vs. Los Angeles Angels
• August 10: vs Los Angeles Angels
• August 11: at Chicago White Sox
• August 12: at Chicago White Sox
• August 13: at Chicago White Sox
• August 14: at Minnesota Twins
• August 15: at Minnesota Twins
• August 16: at Minnesota Twins
• August 17: at Minnesota Twins
• August 18: vs. Houston Astros
• August 19: vs. Houston Astros
• August 20: vs. Houston Astros
• August 22: vs. Kansas City Royals
• August 23: vs. Kansas City Royals
• August 24: vs. Kansas City Royals
• August 25: at Athletics
• August 26: at Athletics
• August 27: at Athletics
• August 29: at Kansas City Royals
• August 30: at Kansas City Royals
• August 31: at Kansas City Royals
• September 1: vs. New York Mets
• September 2: vs. New York Mets
• September 3: vs. New York Mets
• September 5: vs. Chicago White Sox
• September 6: vs. Chicago White Sox
• September 7: vs. Chicago White Sox
• September 9: at New York Yankees
• September 10: at New York Yankees
• September 11: at New York Yankees
• September 12: at Miami Marlins
• September 13: at Miami Marlins
• September 14: at Miami Marlins
• September 16: vs. Cleveland Guardians
• September 17: vs. Cleveland Guardians
• September 18: vs. Cleveland Guardians
• September 19: vs. Atlanta Braves
• September 20: vs. Atlanta Braves
• September 21: vs. Atlanta Braves
• September 23: at Cleveland Guardians
• September 24: at Cleveland Guardians
• September 25: at Cleveland Guardians
• September 26: at Boston Red Sox
• September 27: at Boston Red Sox
• September 28: at Boston Red Sox

Detroit Tigers Odds

With Detroit’s success this season, its odds of winning the AL Central are -1450. Detroit also has fantastic odds to win the American League at +300, and the Tigers have the fourth-best odds to win the World Series at +900.

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