DETROIT -- Tarik Skubal recently experienced the thrill of throwing his first complete game as a professional, and the Detroit Tigers' ace is determined to make it a regular occurrence. In an era where teams heavily rely on relievers, Skubal is eager to break the mold and remain on the mound deep into games.

"The game has evolved, and the relievers are more dominant than ever, but my goal is to make it tough for A.J. Hinch to take me out," Skubal said. "I want to be out there for the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. That's what starting pitching is all about—taking the ball and eating innings."

Skubal's ambition is a nod to a bygone era when starting pitchers routinely pitched deep into games. Justin Verlander, a three-time AL Cy Young winner, reminisced about his early days with the Tigers under manager Jim Leyland, who allowed him to pitch 120-pitch outings and log 200-inning seasons.

"Even back then, that was considered old school," Verlander said. "If it weren't for Leyland, I might not have had the chance to prove what I could do. My ability to throw that many pitches and get stronger as the game went on set me apart."

In his last start, Skubal was nearly flawless, giving up just two hits and striking out 13 batters in a 94-pitch performance. It was one of only five individual shutouts in the majors this season. If Skubal or any other Tigers starter can maintain such efficiency, Hinch has no qualms about letting them finish the game.

"If a guy wants to enter the ninth inning with 85 pitches, I promise I'll leave him in," Hinch said. "But it's not about just leaving pitchers out there because they're having a good day. The stuff a fresh reliever has is usually better than a starter's 120th pitch."

Skubal's next start is scheduled for Saturday at Kansas City, where he hopes to give Hinch plenty of reasons to keep him in the game longer than usual. "I want to be out there late in the game, handing the ball off to our back-end guys," Skubal said. "That's when I feel I'm at my best."