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When MLB Network revealed its top 10 starting pitchers for 2025 last week, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal made the list – but not where you might think.
Being the unanimous winner of the 2024 American League Cy Young Award wasn't enough to earn Skubal the top spot, which would have been at least somewhat understandable if he had been beaten out by his National League counterpart, Chris Sale.
However, MLB Network's research team ranked Skubal at No. 2 and Sale at No. 3 – behind Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler.
Tarik Skubal turned in one of the most dominant pitching seasons in MLB history and was a key cog in the Tigers run to the Postseason! 🐯
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 15, 2025
The AL Cy Young winner comes in at #2 on the #Top10RightNow list of starters. pic.twitter.com/t6OQ8i8eFr
MLB Network's top pitcher rankings snub Tigers' Tarik Skubal in bizarre fashion
Ranking Skubal behind Wheeler is a snub to say the least, and not just to Tigers fans; Skubal ranked No. 1 in MLB Network's fan poll, while Wheeler ranked No. 4, behind Sale and 2024 National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes.
At 34 years old, Wheeler is six years older than Skubal and therefore has a better body of work over a longer period of time. But there is no question that Skubal was the better pitcher in 2024. He led the Major Leagues in wins (18), strikeouts (228) and pitching WAR (6.3) to capture the AL pitching triple crown and the Cy Young Award. He also led the Tigers to their first postseason appearance since 2014 and finished seventh in the AL MVP voting.
MLB Network justified its ranking of Wheeler at No. 1 due to his durability and postseason success as one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past five years. However, he finished behind Skubal in most categories last season and has never won a Cy Young Award; he finished as the runner-up to Sale last year.
Skubal has been limited by injuries in the past and just made his first All-Star team in 2024, but it's unfair to hold his injury history against him. His ERA has also improved in all five of his MLB seasons, even in spite of his injuries, so this could be only the beginning of his dominant reign. All we know is that everyone is aware he was better than Wheeler in 2024.
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