PHILADELPHIA — It was a much-anticipated matchup on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. Reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal started for the Tigers. Zack Wheeler, one of baseball’s best pitchers since coming to Philadelphia ahead of 2020, manned the mound for the Phillies.
The showdown of aces didn’t quite live up to the hype.
Skubal delivered a winning effort for his club, going seven innings with 10 strikeouts while giving up three runs. Wheeler, charged with four runs (three earned) in six-plus innings of work, was handed his fifth loss of the season; it was his second in as many starts.