Tigers ace Tarik Skubal out long term with elbow surgery

Tarik Skubal (Sewageboy, Wikimedia Commons)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Subal of Hayward, California, one of the top pitchers in all of Major League Baseball, and the American League Cy Young Award winner in 2024 and 2025, will be out of the Tigers starting rotation for the foreseeable future. According to the Associated Press, the estimated time is two to three months as Skubal has elbow surgery to remove loose bodies.

Skubal is the second high profile pitcher in the last month to have the surgery. The other is Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz of Naguabo, Puerto Rico.

In 2026, Skubal pitched seven games for the Dodgers. He had a record of three wins and two losses with an earned run average of 2.70. In 43 1/3 innings pitched, Skubal gave up 35 hits, 13 earned runs, two home runs and six walks, to go along with 45 strikeouts, five quality starts and a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 0.95.

The Tigers have played average baseball this season. However, with a record of 18 wins and 18 losses, they still lead the American League Central. They are in a first place tie with the Cleveland Guardians.

Replacing Skubal is going to be mighty difficult. This is a pitcher who has a record of 31-10 over the last two seasons and has an American League best earned run average of 2.30 over that time. Skubal also led Major League Baseball with 228 strikeouts in 2024, and was second in the Major Leagues with 241 strikeouts in 2025 (only behind Garrett Crochet who had 255 strikeouts with the Boston Red Sox). Also in 2025, Skubal led the Major Leagues with a 0.89 WHIP.