Troy Melton could be the key to saving Tigers' 2026 season in a post-Skubal world

Troy Melton pitched another gem on Tuesday night against the Orioles, going seven shutout innings while allowing just three hits and two walks. Detroit's offense did more than their fair share to support him, tagging Dean Kremer with eight runs and the rest of Baltimore's relievers (including position player Chadwick Tromp) with six more.

It was a heartening evening at Comerica, to say the least. Despite the cloud of Tarik Skubal rumors hanging over the stadium, the Tigers didn't even need him to throttle the Orioles.

That might be what the Tigers front office is banking on after the trade deadline, should they trade Skubal. Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic wrote, "Melton is the thing bubbling in the beaker. Like Skubal a handful of years ago, the national audience hasn't yet caught on to just how good he might be."

Moreover, "Melton is one reason the Tigers could be incentivized to thread the needle at Monday's trade deadline — perhaps dealing Skubal for the long-term health of the franchise but not totally forfeiting their hopes for 2026."

That's a lot of pressure to put on the kid, but it's impossible to deny that Melton — not just for his Tuesday start but his work this entire season — looks like a future ace.

Troy Melton's outstanding season could enable Tigers to thread the needle after the trade deadline

We also can't forget that Jackson Jobe is due to return in August, too, and he was a far more highly-touted prospect than Melton ever was. Of course, the Tigers will want to be careful with Jobe after coming off Tommy John, but he could be stretched out for not insignificant innings in the postseason, should the Tigers actually get there.

Melton has a 1.75 ERA in 11 starts, after coming off of the IL in late May (hard not to wonder what the Tigers' May would've looked like if they had him that month). He baffled Athletics hitters so much during his July 8 start that he went viral for a split-screen moment when Melton was caught meditating in the dugout while Jeff McNeil took his frustrations out on his cap.

The Tigers are not going to be completely helpless in a Skubal-less future; Melton is doing his part to prove that. It won't make his potential departure any less painful, but it does make the two months the Tigers still have to play without him a lot more exciting.

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