Tarik Skubal and Zack Wheeler both strikeout 10, Phillies fall short to the Tigers 7-5

The marquee matchup between Zack Wheeler and Tarik Skubal was supposed to be a pitcher’s duel at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday. The two dominant arms and Cy Young contenders

The marquee matchup said Zack Wheeler vs. Tarik Skubal. Two Cy Young contenders. Two dominant arms. What we got on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park was something a little messier and far more chaotic than the box score’s matching 10 strikeouts might suggest.

Tarik Skubal

Let’s start with Tarik Skubal, who looked every bit like the reigning AL Cy Young winner for six innings. The Tigers lefty was on cruise control, slicing through the Phillies lineup like it was April 15 and they’d just left Clearwater.

Two hits allowed through six, not a single walk, and 10 strikeouts. He was doing the whole “best pitcher in baseball” routine and making it look effortless.

Tarik Skubal, Elevated 98mph ⛽️…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/lIQPcjpiRT

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 2, 2025

Then the seventh inning happened.

JT Realmuto clipped him for an RBI double and Nick Castellanos smashed a two-run shot into the seats. Suddenly, Skubal looked mortal. He still finished with a strong line (7 IP, 3 ER, 10 K, 0 BB), but that inning stripped away any hope of a signature Cy-Young type performance.

Nick Castellanos 2-Run Home Run

Here come the Phils 👀 pic.twitter.com/uBYnjWaW9e

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 2, 2025

Zack Wheeler

Meanwhile, Zack Wheeler was doing his to match Skubal. He struck out 10, marking his sixth double-digit strikeout game this year and the 31st of his career, but when he wasn’t missing bats, he was getting barreled into orbit.

The Tigers tattooed him for three homers, two of them absolute moonshots from Colt Keith and Kerry Carpenter that totaled 777 feet of misery in the third inning.

Wheeler tried to gut it out, convincing Rob Thomson to let him start the seventh. That lasted about five seconds. After an Otto Kemp error, Javy Báez launched a two-run homer to officially end Wheeler’s night and any realistic shot the Phillies had.

Zack Wheeler says he lobbied Rob Thomson to go back out for the seventh inning.

(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/9QJ6CPTyyu

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) August 2, 2025

Final score: Tigers 7, Phillies 5.

Skubal picked up win No. 11. Wheeler took the L and saw his post-All-Star break ERA balloon to 4.58. Before the break, Wheels posted a dazzling 2.36 but after, we have a guy still searching for his groove.

Zack Wheelers vs Tarik Skubal Notes:

• Tarik Skubal looked unhittable until he didn’t. He’s now rocking a 2.18 ERA with the highest WAR (5.7) among all pitchers this season. Pedro vibes? Not quite. But he’s tracking in the right direction.
• Zack Wheeler still has time to right the ship, but his Cy Young window is shrinking fast. Paul Skenes has the lead lap and is pulling away.
• The Phillies did make it interesting late, but this wasn’t the pitchers’ duel fans were promised.

Next up for the Phillies

The rubber match. Cristopher Sánchez takes the hill for the Phils.

Join The Chase