Tigers Defeat Royals, Closing in on Playoffs

Tarik Skubal earned his 17th win by allowing three hits over five innings, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 4-2 victory against the Kansas City Royals, bringing the Tigers within half a game of a playoff spot with ten games remaining. Riley Greene's crucial home run helped the Tigers secure their fourth consecutive win and ninth in their last eleven games. Skubal's impressive performance, which included seven strikeouts, strengthens his candidacy for the AL Cy Young Award, as he now shares the major league lead in wins and boasts an AL-leading earned run average of 2.48. Historically struggling against the Royals, Skubal rebounded after allowing an early run, pitching four hitless innings afterward. The Royals, swept for the first time at home this season, fell further behind in the wild-card race, now 2.5 games behind Baltimore. Meanwhile, Skubal's next start is projected to be at home against the Rays, as the Tigers aim to secure a playoff spot.