SEATTLE -- The ballots were already cast before October began, but Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal spent the postseason reminding everyone why he’s about to win his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award.

He finished his season with a 1.72 ERA over 20⅔ innings in three playoff starts, striking out 36 batters and walking only four. On Friday in Seattle, he struck out seven consecutive hitters, an MLB postseason record.

The Tigers were eliminated after losing in 15 innings to the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the AL Division Series .

The conventional wisdom entering the best-of-five ALDS was simple: win the two Skubal starts (Games 2 and 5) and “steal” one more to take the series. Instead, the Tigers went 0–2 in the Skubal games and 2–1 in the others.

None of that was on Sku

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