The Detroit Tigers are losing ace Tarik Skubal for “months” due to elbow surgery, manager A.J. Hinch announced.
Skubal was scratched from Monday night’s start after loose bodies were found in his left elbow, the Tigers said. He’ll undergo surgery and likely be out multiple months.
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ESPN’s Jeff Passan said these procedures typically sideline players for 2-3 months.
The two-time defending Cy Young winner joins Casey Mize, Reese Olson, Jackson Jobe, and Troy Melton as Tigers starters currently on the injured list.
Melton is on a rehab assignment, but the others remain out longterm.
Losing Skubal is a massive blow to the Tigers as they try to get to the postseason for a third year in a row. Skubal is the best pitcher on the planet, posting a 2.30 ERA across 387.1 innings the past two seasons, striking out 469 batters with a 0.906 WHIP.
Without Skubal, Mize, Olson, Jobe, and Melton, the Tigers will try to piece together a rotation that’s now headlined by Framber Valdez. Jack Flaherty is off to a miserable start this season, but his spot in the rotation is safe. Keider Montero has been a pleasant surprise, pitching to a 3.48 ERA despite just 25 strikeouts in 33.2 innings.
The Tigers’ plans behind Valdez, Flaherty, and Montero are unclear. They went with a bullpen day on Sunday in place of Mize’s scheduled start.