Detroit Tigers reliever Will Vest watched in admiration as Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal and Astros righty Hunter Brown clashed in a battle of the aces.

DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers certainly didn’t expect last December that they’d reach late August and free-agent signing Alex Cobb would yet to throw a pitch in the major leagues.

The Detroit Tigers have a pitcher who has been thriving over the last few seasons. Tarik Skubal has emerged as one of the best pitchers in the game. But the discussion has changed, as some believe he is the best pitcher in MLB. The Tigers' ace has been dominant. Moreover, the Tigers' pitcher has been hard for every hitter to figure out.

Houston Astros outfielder Taylor Trammell left Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers on a cart after crashing into the center field fence in the first inning

Detroit is in a good spot for a first-round bye, but there are still too many teams within shouting distance to fully relax. In the National League, the Brewers are a full five games ahead of the Tigers, while the Phillies, Cubs, and Dodgers are all within two games of Detroit.

The Detroit Tigers spent a long time in purgatory prior to making the MLB playoffs in 2024, missing the postseason nine consecutive years and playing some under

Although a just-barely, oppo taco two-run homer by Mauricio Dubon ended a 31-inning Astros scoring drought, that was all the scoring the team could muster en route to another humiliating defeat and lopsided series sweep at the hands of A.J. Hinch’s Detroit Tigers.