The Detroit Tigers' ace delivered in the biggest game of the season.

Six months after saying he wanted to pitch Game 1 of the playoffs, Tarik Skubal threw six scoreless innings to kick off the American League wild-card series against the Houston Astros.

Skubal allowed five base runners on four hits and one walk but stranded each runner after grinding through tough at-bats against Houston's star-studded lineup. He threw 88 pitches, 64 for strikes, and did not allow a runner past second base.

The Tigers are currently leading the Astros 3-0 in the eighth inning. He was replaced by right-handed reliever Will Vest, who has a 2.82 ERA out of the bullpen in 2024.

Skubal had an efficient start to his day with a five-pitch, 1-2-3 first inning, followed by surviving a ground ball to his glove hand in a 1-2-3 second. He stranded Houston's first two base runners in the bottom of the third, then struck out the final two batters in the fourth inning and let out his first Skubal Scream™ of the game.

Skubal had another five-pitch inning in the fifth, then finished his day with two more strikeouts in the sixth inning. He first got Yordan Alvarez looking with an outside changeup, then got Yainer Diaz to chase a high fastball to strand Alex Bregman at first. Skubal left the mound at Minute Maid Park after one final bellow.

The Tigers will now turn to their bullpen, which has been MLB's best with a 2.65 ERA to close the regular season.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers' Tarik Skubal throws 6 scoreless vs. Astros in wild-card Game 1