Skubal Moves Up in SP Power Rankings Ahead of Trade Deadline

Tarik Skubal moved back up into the Starting Pitcher Power Rankings as the MLB Trade Deadline approached on Monday, July 31, at 6 p.m. ET. Speculation surrounds whether his next move might be from Detroit to another MLB city as his performance suggests he has returned to form, resembling the player who won the past two AL Cy Young Awards, only three months after undergoing left elbow surgery.

This marked Skubal’s first appearance in the top 10 since his injury, coming right after what could have been his last start in a Tigers uniform on Wednesday afternoon against the Orioles at Comerica Park, where he also achieved his 1,000th career strikeout. Although our MLB.com voting panel made their selections before that game, all mentioned statistics were current through Tuesday's performances.

1. Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (Last poll: 1) - Misiorowski continues to amaze, most recently striking out 12 of his first 13 batters against the Rockies. His four-seam fastballs all clocked at 100 mph or faster, reinforcing his status as the frontrunner for the NL Cy Young Award.

2. Cam Schlittler, Yankees (4) - Despite recent bumps, including four home runs allowed against the Tigers on June 30, Schlittler bounced back with a strong performance against the Phillies, leading the AL in ERA, ERA+, WHIP, and K-to-BB ratio.

3. Dylan Cease, Blue Jays (3) - Cease has delivered strong production in a season that has not gone as planned for Toronto, posting a 2.46 ERA and leading with a 2.32 FIP and a remarkable 13.3 K/9 rate.

4. Tarik Skubal, Tigers (not ranked) - Skubal has looked impressive since returning to action on June 13, achieving a 1.48 ERA and a remarkable 44-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 30 1/3 innings in his last five outings. Whether he remains a Tiger or is traded, he attempts to enhance his postseason resume that includes a 2.04 ERA in six career starts.

5. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers (not ranked) - The Dodgers' gamble to acquire Yamamoto ahead of the 2024 season has paid off, as he ranks highly in ERA among majors and has been a consistent contributor.

6. Chris Sale, Braves (6) - With Misiorowski's performance, Sale could venture toward another NL Cy Young, showcasing impressive numbers throughout his time with Atlanta.

7. Jesús Luzardo, Phillies (10) - Luzardo's acquisition is proving advantageous for the Phillies, as he posted a good ERA prior to a recent rocky outing.

8. Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies (5) - Sánchez's season had an impressive start, although his recent performance has seen a decline.

9. Parker Messick, Guardians (not ranked) - Messick's four-seamer has been formidable, leading to high strikeout numbers and low batting averages against him.

10. Zack Wheeler, Phillies (8) - Wheeler's strong start to the season met an abrupt end with a troubling outing against Miami, prompting recovery hopes in upcoming games.

Others receiving votes: Chase Burns (Reds), Sean Burke (White Sox), Drew Rasmussen (Rays), Gavin Williams (Guardians), Nolan McLean (Mets), Paul Skenes (Pirates), Foster Griffin (Nationals), Nick Martinez (Rays), Gerrit Cole (Yankees), Roki Sasaki (Dodgers), Justin Wrobleski (Dodgers), Troy Melton (Tigers), Trevor Rogers (Orioles), Jake Bennett (Red Sox). Voters: David Adler, Theo DeRosa, Jared Greenspan, Brent Maguire, Max Ralph, Manny Randhawa, Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru, Andrew Simon.