The Detroit Tigers' worst-case scenario appeared to come true earlier this week when manager A.J. Hinch revealed that Tarik Skubal would need surgery on his left elbow to remove loose bodies. Skubal was scratched from his scheduled start Monday against the Boston Red Sox and was subsequently placed on the injured list.
For a Tigers team sitting two games under .500 and falling short of expectations, losing Skubal for an extended stretch is a massive blow. The 29-year-old left-hander was in the midst of another dominant season, posting a 2.70 ERA with 45 strikeouts through his first seven starts. He was hoping to become just the fifth pitcher in MLB history to win three straight American League Cy Young Awards, a goal now likely out of reach given the time he will miss.
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However, Skubal might not be sidelined nearly as long as initially feared. He underwent surgery Wednesday, and the first update afterward was overwhelmingly positive.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the procedure was a success and that only one relatively small loose body needed to be removed. Skubal’s original recovery timeline was estimated at two to three months, but Heyman noted that two months seems like a "conservative estimate" and that a return in four to six weeks is now possible. He also added that Skubal could begin his ramp-up process almost immediately within the coming days.
This is a major development for both the Tigers and their ace. For Detroit, getting Skubal back in a month would be the best-case scenario for a rotation that desperately needs stability.
For Skubal, the shortened timeline represents a far smaller setback than expected, especially in a contract year. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end and is widely projected to secure the largest pitching contract in MLB history.
Now in his seventh season with Detroit, Skubal has developed into the most dominant arm in baseball. A two-time All-Star, he has been the driving force behind the Tigers' back-to-back postseason appearances and remains the centerpiece of their hopes in 2026.
