DETROIT — Tarik Skubal gave up two hits in seven scoreless innings as the Detroit Tigers took another step toward an improbable postseason appearance with a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.
Skubal (18-4), a leading candidate to win the American League Cy Young award, struck out seven batters while walking only one on a day the weather didn't cooperate.
He is 6-0 with a 1.94 ERA in his past nine starts. «I have the best seat in the house to watch the best pitcher in the league,» Tigers manager A.J.
Hinch said. «He was incredible on a tough day to pitch. We changed the time from a night game to an afternoon game, then ended up sitting out an hour delay, but he dominated.» Skubal will get a chance for a 19th win Sunday if the Tigers need him to beat the Chicago White Sox on the final day of the regular season to make the postseason.