Tigers' Tarik Skubal set to start against Orioles ahead of trade deadline

Detroit will start right-hander Tarik Skubal on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles, his last appearance before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Skubal, a free agent at the end of the season, has been linked to several teams, but manager A.J. Hinch said the club will use him to try to win the series and improve its playoff chances. > "We’re trying to win a series, so that puts us in a better position to be a playoff team," Hinch said. Skubal, who has logged 76 starts at Comerica Park, entered the game with 999 career strikeouts, one shy of the 1,000-strikeout milestone. He previously pitched a seven-plus-inning effort that nearly reached the mark, but Hinch opted not to leave him in solely for the statistic. > "I’ve gotta play baseball. I need to do my job," Skubal said, adding that he ignores trade rumors and focuses on competing. The Tigers, who are hovering near the postseason cut line, hope the win will boost momentum as they approach the deadline. Scouts from multiple organizations are expected to attend the game, reflecting the heightened interest in Skubal’s potential trade value.