With Skubal leading the rotation, Detroit has jumped to the top of the American League. The Tigers sit at 56-34, holding a 12.5-game lead in the AL Central. They’ve become one of the most balanced teams in the league, and with their ace firing on all cylinders, they look poised for a deep playoff push.

Given Skubal's brilliance this season (10-2, 2.02 ERA and a league-best 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings), the announcement was not a surprise.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/tigers as Detroit Tigers Ace Tarik Skubal Joins Elite Company Against Guardians . The Detroit Tigers were able to sweep their series against the Cleveland Guardians with their ace on the mound.