Baltimore is 52-56. Detroit is 51-57. And Wednesday's series finale in Detroit gives both teams a look at exactly the kind of pitcher each front office wishes it already had signed long-term.
Trevor Rogers takes the ball for Baltimore against Tarik Skubal, the two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner — and it may be Skubal's last start in a Detroit uniform. Both pitchers are eligible for free agency this winter, an enticement for their teams to possibly trade them before Monday's trade deadline. Skubal is one of the most sought-after names on the market. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch sought to downplay the noise around the start: "We are trying to win a series," he said this week.
Trevor Rogers's season ERA — 4.17 — doesn't tell the real story. A brutal stretch through April and May, while he battled a bad flu, is still influencing the number. Since June, he's been one of the better left-handers in the league: a 1.80 ERA over his last nine starts, and he hasn't allowed more than two runs in an outing since June 9 against Seattle. He says he wants to stay in Baltimore, and the Orioles have real incentive to keep him.
The expected outcome is a conversation, and a deal, once the season ends, but you never know.
Tarik Skubal's situation is a bit different — he's simply the best pitcher in baseball right now, a 2.70 ERA and 0.92 WHIP through 15 starts, with a career 1.17 ERA and a 4-1 record in five starts against Baltimore specifically. Detroit never got him signed to an extension; he set an MLB arbitration record at $32 million for 2026 rather than take a deal well short of it, and his camp is reportedly seeking north of $400 million once he reaches the open market — a price that would make him the sport's first $400 million pitcher.
Maybe the Tigers can do that and want to keep him. With Detroit within a few games of the final AL wild-card spot, maybe they keep him. Same story for the Orioles with Rogers. With all that in mind and the stakes at hand, sit back and enjoy this one to day.
The series itself has already swung wildly. Baltimore won the opener 8-5 behind home runs from Coby Mayo, Leody Taveras, and Tyler O'Neill, then was routed 14-0 in game two as Detroit became the first team since 1954 to score in every inning of a game against the Orioles. Whichever team loses Wednesday's finale falls further behind in a wild-card race neither can afford to fall further behind in, with the deadline five days away and September approaching fast.
Probable Starters
Detroit Tigers: LHP Tarik Skubal (7-5, 2.70 ERA)
Baltimore Orioles: LHP Trevor Rogers (6-7, 4.17 ERA)
Where to Watch/Listen
First pitch: 1:10 PM ET at Comerica Park, Detroit
Weather: 80°F, Clear
TV: MASN
Radio: 98 Rock (97.9 FM) and WBAL NewsRadio (AM 1090 / FM 101.5)