1 of 5 | Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal underwent surgery in his left throwing elbow May 6. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Detroit Tigers ace pitcher Tarik Skubal will end a seven-week injury hiatus and start Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians, manager A.J. Hinch announced Thursday.
Skubal experienced discomfort in his left throwing elbow in his last start, a 4-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves on May 29 in Atlanta. He underwent surgery May 6 to remove loose bodies in the elbow.
Skubal, who won the American League Cy Young Awards for the last two years, was 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA over seven starts this season.
The Tigers, who were 87-75 last season to finish second in the American League Central and advance to the American League Division Series, are 28-40 and tied for last place in their division. The won six of their last eight games.
“We’re adding the best pitcher in baseball back to our mix,” Hinch told reporters Thursday in Detroit. “It’s hard to describe what that boost will be.”
The 3.91 ERA of Tigers starters ranks eighth among MLB rotations. Tigers starters also posted a 3.91 ERA last season, which ranked 11th.
Skubal, 29, allowed just two hits, with six strikeouts, over five shutout innings in a rehab start for the West Michigan Whitecaps on Sunday in Comstock Park, Mich.
The Tigers will host the Minnesota Twins (31-38) on Thursday in Detroit. They will take on the Guardians (37-33) at 7:10 p.m. EDT Friday in Cleveland. Skubal and the Tigers will meet the Guardians again at 4:10 p.m. Saturday in Cleveland.
