Tigers' Tarik Skubal gets bold prediction that would make for ult… — and more

Tigers' Tarik Skubal gets bold prediction that would make for ultimate contract year originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Detroit Tigers have decided to keep Tarik Skubal atop their rotation, and they're planning to go all-in for the 2026 season in his final year with the team.

He's making $32 million, but in the final year of his contract, he's set to make well north of that figure in free agency. He might land the biggest contract of any pitcher ever.

MLB.com's Brent Maguire made a bold prediction on Skubal, with the Cy Young lefty recording 300 strikeouts, which would be the ultimate contract year across every major sport.

Tigers' Tarik Skubal gets bold 300 strikeout prediction

"Skubal punches out 300 hitters," Maguire predicts. "Considering what's at stake for Skubal and the Tigers this season, it's not hard to envision the lefty pushing upwards of 200 innings."

The 2026 season is a huge one for the Tigers and Skubal. For the lefty, this is his contract year, where a good performance can result in generational wealth.

For the Tigers, this is their final year with Skubal. They will want to get the most out of their Cy Young ace, especially since they will have a tough time retaining him next offseason.

With that in mind, Skubal will be given plenty of chances to stay in games as the Tigers hope to get the most out of him. And with Skubal, if he can not just pitch at a high level, but eat a ton of innings in the process, it would be a huge boost for his free agent stock.

More: Cubs' Alex Bregman makes assertive no-trade clause Red Sox statement

This past season, he reached 241 strikeouts in 195.1 innings pitched. In 2024, across 192 innings, he had 228 strikeouts.

If he can pitch well more than 200 innings this season, and also keep his strikeout rate per-nine innings rate above 11.0, then his odds to reach 300 strikeouts would increase.

But it's still not going to be easy. Not only does he have to pitch at an elite level all year, but he needs to pitch more than he ever has in his career.

If he can make 33 starts and go a bit deeper into games while striking out a lot of batters, he could do it. Maguire's prediction is a bold one for a reason. It's not very reachable.

But Skubal has the talent to do it. If he does record 300 strikeouts in 2026, not only would he likely win AL Cy Young for a third-straight year, but he would've had one of the best contract years ever across every professional sport.

More MLB news:

• MLB Hot Stove tracker: Live updates on news, rumors, signings and trades for 2025 free agency
• Yankees' Jazz Chisholm reveals his 9-figure contract asking price
• Twins get devastating injury news on Pablo Lopez
• German Marquez takes shot at Rockies after signing with team that 'wants to win'
• Mets fans should be concerned with Bo Bichette after fielding struggles go viral
• Giants get great news on top prospect Carson Whisenhunt with huge velocity increase
• Phillies' Jhoan Duran teases new pitch, but won't reveal what it is

Who’s next after Fernando Mendoza in the NFL Draft quarterback class of 2026? That’s a question both teams and draft analysts are trying to figure out during this week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. One of the emerging candidates for the second quarterback is Penn State’s Drew Allar. 

Could Drew Allar emerge as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Stranger things have happened. 

With the latest news that Allar will throw here in Indianapolis during Saturday’s on-field workout session for quarterbacks, his star is rising already. Arm talent is arguably Allar’s biggest asset as a prospect, and showing off the prodigious strength and zip can only help Allar. When compared to competitors like Ty Simpson from Alabama or Garrett Nussmeier from LSU, Allar’s sheer size and athleticism are likely to shine during the Combine as well. 

Why Allar?

The former five-star recruit definitely looks the part of the prototypical NFL pocket passer. A well-built 6-foot-5, Allar has a naturally strong arm that delivers throws with zip all over the field. 

Allar isn’t some pocket stiff, however. He’s a decent athlete who can chew up yards on the ground with his long gait (302 rushing yards in 2024). One of the biggest feathers in his cap is his ability to avoid catastrophic mistakes. Allar once threw together over 300 straight passes without an interception. 

That judicious trust of his considerable arm strength compares to a younger Matthew Stafford. Allar will attempt tight-window throws that others in this class can’t conceive of completing. Yet he’s smart enough to know when to move on to the next progression if he doesn’t like it. 

He does have his advocates, too.

Why not Allar?

Foremost, Allar is coming off the season-ending ankle injury. Even prior to the injury, his game had not shown any real forward progress. His erratic accuracy continued to be a growing problem. Downfield throws were an adventure, though to be fair to Allar, his receiving corps in 2025 did him few favors. 

Much of what plagues Allar as a passer comes from inconsistent mechanics. In watching his film, Allar’s feet, arm angle and hip alignment all sorely lack consistency. Those are the same problems he had earlier in his Penn State career. Stagnation in skills is a big sin for NFL prospects, especially when they’re as highly-touted as a prospect as Allar was coming out of high school. 

Beyond the scattershot passing, Allar really struggled to handle pressure. The phrase “deer in headlights” comes up often, and it unfortunately fits. There’s no easy fix for quarterbacks who can’t reliably handle pressure, unfortunately, beyond hoping that Allar will grow out of it with more experience and perhaps playing behind a better offensive line. 

Just as Allar has his supporters, there are many who cannot buy into any ascension.

Will it happen?

It’s too early to say, but Allar would have to really wow NFL teams and scouts with his arm and also in the interview rooms to elevate himself up to being QB2 in this draft class. That door is open, though, because those same evaluators remain underwhelmed by Simpson, Nussmeier and the rest of the QB class after presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

OLYMPICS: Most talked-about Olympic romances from 2026 Winter Games

NBA: Andrew Friedman, other Dodgers execs get new roles with Lakers after $10 billion sale

SPORTS MEDIA: USA men’s hockey draws record Olympic gold medal TV viewership

ENTERTAINMENT: Martin Short’s daughter Katherine tragically dies at age 42

VIRAL: Pat McAfee makes stunning gesture during Team USA’s $150K Gold medal celebration

The post Drew Allar will try to show he can be QB2 in the 2026 NFL Draft appeared first on The Big Lead.

The Blue Devils will play Campbell on Senior Day, a home game to honor the graduating seniors. The event will feature a ceremony and a celebratory game.

Dortmunds Sportdirektor Sebastian Kehl äußert sich nach dem Ausscheiden in der Champions League gegen Atalanta Bergamo.[mehr]