By: @oossports
The Detroit Tigers made a major rotation change Monday after they scratched Tarik Skubal from his scheduled start and placed him on the injured list.
The Tigers’ ace is set to undergo surgery to address loose bodies in his throwing elbow, manager A.J. Hinch confirmed. The team did not provide a timetable for his return, creating immediate uncertainty around one of the American League’s most dominant pitchers.
Skubal, 29, was originally lined up to face the Boston Red Sox, with left-hander Payton Tolle expected on the opposing side. Detroit will instead turn to Tyler Holton to make Monday’s start.
The development follows an injury scare during Skubal’s outing against the Atlanta Braves on April 29. In the seventh inning of that start, he shook out his throwing arm after a pitch and briefly met with teammates and staff on the mound while rubbing his left elbow.
Despite the moment, Skubal remained in the game and finished the inning. He struck out the side before exiting with a pitch count of 91, initially downplaying concern after the outing.
“I don’t really know. Cramp is probably the wrong word,” Skubal told MLB.com, “We’ve heard the word zinger, I guess, but it wasn’t really like a nervy thing. I don’t know.”
Skubal continued his regular preparation in the days that followed and completed his usual side sessions. As recently as Monday morning, he appeared on track to take the mound before the late change.
The injury halts what had been another elite season. Through seven starts, Skubal holds a 2.70 ERA with 45 strikeouts across 43 1/3 innings. He has won the American League Cy Young Award in each of the past two seasons and entered 2026 as a leading contender once again.
The timing adds another layer of significance, as Skubal is in the final year of his rookie contract and is expected to reach free agency after the season.