Tigers' Tarik Skubal shares Astros' Hunter Brown wish ahead of matchup

Tigers' Tarik Skubal shares Astros' Hunter Brown wish ahead of matchup originally appeared on The Sporting News

The Detroit Tigers and the Houston Astros are set to face off in the second game of a three-game series on Tuesday night. On the mound for both teams are their aces, Tarik Skubal and Hunter Brown.

Ahead of such a highly anticipated matchup between the top two AL Cy Young candidates, Skubal commented on the upcoming matchup, and specifically, how Brown is facing his hometown team in Detroit.

Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic shared Skubal's comments on facing Brown during his homecoming start in Detroit. Skubal wishes that he didn't have to face Brown, but for a reason that Tigers fans would appreciate.

Tarik Skubal's Hunter Brown Wish

"Detroit ties are cool," Skubal said, "It would be cooler if he was wearing our jersey."

While Brown is from Detroit and still resides there during the offseason, he ended up in Houston and has become one of the best pitchers in baseball. He's a free agent after the 2028 season, at which point he could come to Detroit. But for now, he's an Astro.

Ahead of their matchup, Skubal wishes the All-Star Astros pitcher could be playing for his hometown team instead of with Houston.

Brown's dominance this season, with a 2.45 ERA and a 10-5 record, is good enough reason for the Tigers ace to wish Brown were playing with Detroit instead of Houston.

Even if the Tigers' rotation was great, which it hasn't been as of late, adding a player of Brown's caliber would be appealing. But, barring Skubal re-signing a huge deal with Detroit, he likely won't get a chance to pitch for the Tigers at the same time as Brown.

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The Astros aren't trading their ace, and Brown isn't hitting free agency until multiple years after Skubal does. Skubal is a free agent after 2026, two years before Brown. 

The 28-year-old Skubal and the 26-year-old Brown are the top two AL Cy Young contenders this season, and their Tuesday night matchup will be one to watch.

Brown might come to Detroit in the future to play for his hometown team, but for the next few years, it's very unlikely to happen. For now, their highly anticipated matchup could be a big factor in determining the 2025 Cy Young Award winner in the AL.

While the winner won't automatically earn the Cy Young, it would be a great boost to their candidacy. But in Skubal's ideal world, he wouldn't have to face Brown, as he wishes that Brown were suiting up for the Tigers instead of pitching against them.

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