​The Detroit Tigers have won six of their last seven games, climbing to a 42-50 record. They still sit in third place in the American League Central, but their July start stands in stark contrast to the rough stretch they endured in May. For fans hoping to see a late-season push, the early July turnaround offers a glimmer of optimism that Detroit could run off a stretch that might propel them into postseason contention.
With the MLB Trade Deadline approaching on August 3 at 6:00 p.m. ET, the big question surrounding the Tigers is whether ace Tarik Skubal will remain with the team or be moved as the deadline arrives. Skubal recently conveyed a clear preference to Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris: the team should buy, not sell, at the deadline. His perspective comes from the vantage point of watching Detroit over the past few weeks and feeling encouraged by the way they’ve played and the progress they’ve made.
“We all knew, this whole season, this is the team that we have,” Skubal said. “We just kind of got some bad luck and beat ourselves a little bit early in the season, and it doesn’t seem like we’re doing that anymore. We need to continue to build on that momentum and finish strong into the break.”
He added that there were some unlucky losses and some injuries—his included—but that the decision-makers should recognize Detroit’s quality and the potential for improvement. “Hopefully the decision-makers see that we’re a very good team and it’s not sell at the deadline — it’s add,” Skubal said. “I think we’re a really good team, and there are so many guys in this room who have proven that we can go on a run, like we did in ’24.” He also stressed that the Tigers are among the best in the American League, if not in all of MLB, despite their current record. “There’s a lot that goes into it, but our record is not our team. We’re not a 41-50 team, I don’t even think we’re a .500 team. I think we are one of the best teams in the American League, one of the best teams in MLB. At some point, results matter, and our record is our record, and that matters. Winning matters. But at the same time, I do think we do a lot of things that haven’t shown up in the win-loss column.”
This season, Skubal has posted a 5-4 record with a 3.06 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP, along with 84 strikeouts. He also is noted for his status as a two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner and for recently winning a historic arbitration case against the Tigers. The salary dispute culminated in Skubal earning a record-setting $32 million for the 2026 season, after Detroit had submitted a $19 million figure, creating a $13 million gap—the largest ever seen in Major League Baseball arbitration.
As the trade deadline looms, all eyes will be on how Detroit’s front office responds. If Skubal’s optimism about the club’s capabilities translates into a willingness to reinforce rather than dismantle, the Tigers could leverage their improved play and momentum to attract additional help and continue pushing toward a more competitive finish to the season.