Tigers' Ace Tarik Skubal Exits With Left-Side Tightness; Imaging Planned After Early Departure
Skubal left Friday’s start in the fourth inning after grabbing his left side; Detroit to evaluate imaging results after loss to Marlins
Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal exited his start in the fourth inning of Friday’s 8-2 loss to the Miami Marlins after experiencing tightness in his left side, the team announced, and is scheduled to undergo imaging on Saturday.
Skubal grabbed at his left side after throwing his 45th pitch and was removed following a brief mound meeting with manager A.J. Hinch. The Tigers said in the sixth inning that Skubal “exited tonight’s game after experiencing tightness in his left side and is currently under evaluation.” ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that imaging is planned for Saturday to determine the severity of the injury.
Skubal, who had been one of Major League Baseball’s most dominant starters this season, surrendered four earned runs on four hits through 3 1/3 innings in Friday’s start. He entered the game with an American League-leading 2.10 ERA and 222 strikeouts in 180 innings over 28 starts, figures that made him a frontrunner for a second consecutive Cy Young Award.
The left-hander missed significant time in both 2022 and 2023 recovering from a torn flexor tendon and previously underwent Tommy John surgery in college. Those medical issues make any new arm or side complaint a particular concern for Detroit’s medical staff and rotation management.
Friday’s outing came days after Skubal skipped a scheduled start against the New York Yankees, a move that provided extra rest before the assignment against Miami. Skubal has acknowledged the mental toll of a long season; last month he told reporters that the stretch from late July into early August had felt “mentally exhausting” and that clearing that period allowed him to refocus on pitching at his best during the stretch run and potential postseason play.
Hinch said the mental grind affects players across the league and defended Skubal’s approach to preparation. “I don’t think he’s too hard on himself,” Hinch said. “You should always set the ball extremely high. Getting himself ready for the stretch run in September and hopefully into October is just part of the season, and he’s had to learn how to deal with that.”
Detroit’s club medical staff will review imaging results before providing an update on Skubal’s availability. The Tigers entered Friday with a playoff push under way and rely heavily on Skubal as their unquestioned ace, making a clear diagnosis important for short-term rotation plans.
The Tigers did not immediately announce whether a timetable would be provided following the imaging. Further updates are expected once the team’s physicians have reviewed the results and conferred with the pitching staff. For now, Detroit will face the uncertainty of potentially losing its top starter as it navigates the final weeks of the regular season.