The Tigers got a gut-punch medical review, like an ace Tarik Skubal is headed for arthroscopic surgery to remove loose ligaments from his elbow, manager AJ Hinch tells the team’s beat (link via Evan Woodbery of MLive.com). A timeline for his recovery has yet to be determined, but it is understood that Skubal will be placed on the 15-day injured list for now. The Tigers will remember well Ty Madden and go with the bullpen game opened by Tyler Holton at Skubal’s place in the evening.
Skubal has been the best so far in 2026. He started seven games, totaling 43 1/3 innings and notching a tidy 2.70 ERA to start the season. His average fastball is down nearly a mile per hour from last year’s peak of 97.6 mph, but this year’s average of 96.6 mph is in line with his 2024 levels, when he wins the first of his two Cy Young trophies. Skubal has struck out 27.1% of his opponents against a 3.6% walk rate.
While it may not be the strongest start to Skubal’s career, his track record makes him the best pitcher in the American League – if not all of MLB. Losing him for what will be a long time is a blow to the Tigers, especially given the team’s poor start to the season. Detroit is 18-17, tied with Cleveland for first place in the American League Central. Had the Tigers raced out to a big lead, the loss of the ace — while still heartbreaking — could have eased the weather. Instead, their pedestrian play thus far has kept the last-place Twins even (15-20) within three games of a share of the division lead.
Every injury is different, but the presentation suggests that Skubal should still be able to return to the mound this year. He’s not even a lock to be put on the 60-day IL. It shows the variety of possible outcomes here, in Atlanta Spencer Schwellenbach again Hurston Waldrep both underwent surgery to remove loose bodies within days of giving birth to each other this spring. Schwellenbach was immediately placed on the 60-day IL and has yet to start pitching despite being sidelined for nearly two months. Waldrep, meanwhile, has not been placed on the 60-day IL and will throw bullpen sessions this week. He may return in late May or early June.
Warning that the absence could be “only” two to three months is not desirable for Detroit fans, but it is worth noting that Skubal has a real chance to return later this summer – perhaps for a decent part of the rest of the season. For now, though, the Tigers’ rotation depth is being put through the wringer.
Skubal joins Casey Mize, Justin Verlander again Reese Olson on the injured list. Mize is dealing with a groin problem. Verlander has hip swelling. Olson underwent shoulder surgery and will miss the entire 2026 season. Awarded to the young righty Jackson Jobe He is on the 60-day disabled list while continuing to rehab for the year since Tommy John surgery last June. Jobe could be an option in July or August. It’s possible that he and Skubal will climb back into the rotation at the same time, even. Another promising right hand, Troy Meltonhe is out for the rest of the season due to elbow strain.
With so many pitchers on the shelf, the Tigers will go with them Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty again Keider Montero over current circulation. Swingman Drew Anderson he is an obvious candidate for the rotation. He posted a 5.12 ERA in 19 1/3 innings of relief this season but was a standout in the Korea Baseball Organization last year and signed a one-year, $7MM contract in free agency this winter. Anderson’s 26.5% strikeout rate, 10.8% walk rate and 13.7% swing rate all suggest that his ERA should drop slightly; metrics like SIERA (3.45) and xERA (4.06) are the best in his career.
That’s right Sawyer Gipson-Long he’s on the 40-man roster down in Triple-A and could get a look at some point. Several minor league arms for the Tigers – Jake Miller, Troy Watson, Joseph Montalvo – are on the injured list at Triple-A and Double-A as well. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Detroit try to go outside the organization to get more depth, though it’s lacking at this point in the season. Mize and Verlander will have spots waiting when they return, but Verlander has been out for about a month and has yet to rehab, while the Tigers have not made it clear how long Mize will be retained.
The immediate concern is how the Tigers fare with these injuries and what they do to their chances in the American League Central, of course. However, Skubal’s surgery and the way he rode his return clouded what could be the most rewarding trip to free agency of any pitcher in history.
Skubal obviously won’t win a third consecutive Cy Young Award now. A setback, a longer-than-expected rehab process and/or a poor performance coming back from the injured list could all impact what was shaping up to be the highest earning power of any pitcher in MLB history. If he returns to the mound by mid-summer and returns to his old form, it’s possible that the injury won’t end up buying his contract, but there are too many unknowns right now to gauge the situation with any certainty.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post first reported that Skubal was scratched from his start tonight.
