Two possible starting pitchers for next month’s All-Star Game will take center stage in Detroit on Tuesday night.
Left-hander Ranger Suarez (10-1, 1.75 ERA) of the National League East-leading Philadelphia Phillies will be opposed by Tigers southpaw Tarik Skubal (8-3, 2.50), whose team is languishing below .500.
Suarez has only allowed just one run in each of his past two outings. He lasted 6 2/3 innings against the host Baltimore Orioles on June 14, then tossed six innings against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
Making his latest start even more special was that his family flew in from Venezuela to watch the game.
“It was the first time they’ve seen me (pitch), and I’m just really happy,” Suarez said via an interpreter. “Happy that they’re here with me enjoying the game, happy that they’re watching what I do, and happy that they’re enjoying the whole team as well.”
Suarez has increased his value during a stellar first half of the season. He is eligible for free agency after next season, but the Phillies are hoping to work out an extension before that happens.
“We love Ranger, of course,” team president Dave Dombrowski said. “Why wouldn’t you? We hope that he’s part of the organization for a long time.”
Suarez will be starting against the Tigers for the first time in his career. He pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief against them in July 2019, giving up one hit and striking out one.
Skubal’s ERA was under 2.00 until his last two starts, both on the road. He allowed four runs in 6 1/3 innings against the Houston Astros on June 14, then gave up five runs (four earned) in four innings against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. It was his shortest outing of the season.
“It just wasn’t a good day for him,” manager A.J. Hinch said after the game in Atlanta. “They hit a couple of changeups, which changed his pitch selection a little bit. And then when he tried to drive the fastball in, he hit a couple of guys. He was off (Wednesday). But, early on, (the Braves) did some two-out hitting against him. They took advantage of that.”
Skubal will be facing the Phillies for the first time. He is 5-0 with a 2.01 ERA in seven home starts this season.
The Phillies rolled to an 8-1 victory in the opener of the three-game series on Monday, their third win in a row. Philadelphia pulled off its first triple play since 2017, while Bryce Harper extended his hitting streak to nine games and his extra-base streak to five games. He had a three-run homer and two doubles while driving in five runs on Monday.
Harper has six doubles, four homers and 10 RBIs in the past eight games.
The triple play came in the third inning with runners on the corners. Matt Vierling hit a soft liner back to pitcher Aaron Nola, who caught the ball and doubled Carson Kelly off first. Zach McKinstry, who was on third, misread the play and sprinted home. A throw to third easily completed the first 1-3-5 triple play in the major leagues since 1929.
“That was a pretty cool moment for all of us,” Harper said. “It was like going back to Little League, we were so excited.”
–Field Level Media