The Detroit Tigers lost their ace and reigning AL Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal, after he left the game against the Miami Marlins following a pitch he threw in the fourth inning. Skubal grabbed at his left oblique and rib cage area before he called for the trainer and left the game.
Manager A.J. Hinch recently spoke about Skubal's injury, and it seems like everything is good, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic.
“A.J. Hinch said tests came back clean and news was ‘all good' on Tarik Skubal. Sounds like the team will still take things day to day to see if Skubal can make his next start,” Stavenhagen wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
After the game, Skubal noted that he was going to stay positive about the injury.
“I'm obviously going to be optimistic,” Skubal said. “I understand that I took myself out of a game and that's the first time I've ever done that in my career, so I understand that there's some sort of concern.”
If Skubal is to miss time, it will be his first time missing a game with a side injury in his career. In the event that he does have to miss time, the Tigers have Casey Mize, Jack Flaherty, and Charlie Morton to back him up.
Skubal is having another strong season, as he's currently leading the league in ERA and WHIP. He's struck out 222 batters in 180 innings and cut his walk rate from last season, while also raising his strikeout rate.
The Tigers are in a comfortable position heading into the stretch of the season, and Skubal could miss a few games before they get ready for the playoffs. It's even better news that Skubal's injury isn't serious, and the hope is that he can return sooner rather than later.
