Tigers edge Royals 4-2 as Skubal secures 17th win

On Wednesday night, Tarik Skubal led the Detroit Tigers to a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals, marking his 17th win of the season. Skubal pitched five innings, allowing only three hits and striking out major league batting leader Bobby Witt Jr. twice. This win was crucial for the Tigers as they moved within a half game of a playoff spot with just ten games remaining in the season. The Tigers have been on a strong run, winning 25 of their last 35 games. The Royals, on the other hand, faced their fourth consecutive loss and were swept at home for the first time this season. Despite the defeat, Witt managed to break a franchise record with his 87th extra-base hit of the season. The Royals are now 2.5 games behind Baltimore for the first wild-card spot and 1.5 games ahead of Minnesota for the second wild card, putting them in a precarious position as the season winds down. Alec Marsh, the Royals' starter, struggled significantly, lasting only 2.2 innings and giving up four runs, three of which were earned. The Tigers capitalized on this early lead, with Greene hitting a notable 427-foot home run, his 24th of the season. The Royals' offense, while featuring strong performances from Perez and Gurriel, could not overcome the deficit. Looking ahead, the Tigers have not yet announced their starter for the upcoming series against Baltimore, while the Royals will send RHP Michael Wacha to the mound for their series opener against San Francisco. Both teams are in critical positions as they aim for playoff contention in the final stretch of the season.