Two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is expected to undergo left elbow surgery today. He is to have bone chips causing irritation removed. The initial hope/belief is Skubal, who had been throwing 98 mph, could be back in about two months.
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The Tigers are hoping that Tarik Skubal will return from his elbow injury in two months
The Detroit Tigers have had an odd start to the 2026 campaign, to say the least. Despite currently holding an 18-19 record, the Tigers are somehow tied for the lead in the American League Central division with the Cleveland Guardians. And yet, it feels like the Tigers are one of the more disappointing teams in the league.
Detroit’s pitching staff is wearing thin, especially now that a suspension seems likely to be handed to Framber Valdez after he inexplicably threw at Trevor Story in the team’s loss to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night. Even more concerning, though, is the left elbow injury that Tarik Skubal is dealing with. After reports indicated he was set to undergo a procedure to clean up his elbow, the Tigers now have a real timeline regarding this injury.
Two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is expected to undergo left elbow surgery today. He is to have bone chips causing irritation removed. The initial hope/belief is Skubal, who had been throwing 98 mph, could be back in about two months.
Skubal has had a spotlight shining on him for months now, thanks to his ongoing contract drama with the Tigers. The front office has let Skubal enter the final year of his deal, and if he somehow ends up hitting the open market this upcoming offseason, it seems like a safe bet to assume that he will be bolting for a new team.
For those unfamiliar with Skubal, he is arguably the most dominant pitcher in the game right now. Skubal has won back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards, and he was a frontrunner to win it again this season (3-2, 2.70 ERA, 45 K, 0.95 WHIP through seven starts). Those hopes were dashed when it was recently announced that Skubal was undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his throwing elbow.
Anytime you get surgery on your throwing elbow, especially during the season, that’s typically not very encouraging. However, the Tigers refused to rule out Skubal for the year, believing he can return to action later this year. As it turns out, the new injury timeline for Skubal could see him make his way back on the mound in two months.
“Two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is expected to undergo left elbow surgery today,” Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported in a post on X. “He is to have bone chips causing irritation removed. The initial hope/belief is Skubal, who had been throwing 98 mph, could be back in about two months.”
GettyStarter Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on July 22, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Skubal’s future with the Tigers has only been thrown further up in the air as a result of his injury situation. Right now, there’s really no indication that the two sides are close to a contract extension. The big question is whether or not the front office will actually consider moving on from Skubal ahead of this season’s trade deadline.
Assuming Skubal can return in two months, he could effectively be showcasing his stuff for the rest of the league. If he can’t get back before the trade deadline, though, things could become even more complicated for a Detroit team that has hopes of competing for a championship this season. So much of those hopes revolve around Skubal, and if the team can’t stay afloat during his absence, some big moves could be on the horizon.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is an Email Newsletter Editor & Breaking News Writer at Heavy Sports. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, NESN Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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