The Detroit Tigers will be without their ace pitcher for an extended period of time following some rough injury news Monday.
Tarik Skubal will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, the Tigers announced Monday. The team did not give a timetable for his return.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post noted that such procedures typically require a recovery period of two to three months, though it is viewed as a routine surgery.
Skubal will undergo surgery for loose bodies in his elbow. There’s no set timetable but it’s seen as a relatively routine surgery. Best guess: two months @EvanPetzold 1st on surgery https://t.co/g8RPvPBWa7
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 4, 2026
This is a similar procedure to the one Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz underwent. He is expected to be out until the second half of the season.
The Tigers have gotten off to an 18-17 start, but this will be a massive blow to them. Losing the two-time Cy Young winner for as much as two months could be a serious setback in their efforts to make the playoffs for a third consecutive year. It is also a concern for Skubal, who is set to be a free agent at the end of the season.
Skubal had shown no indication of being bothered by any issues in recent starts. He has a 2.70 ERA through seven starts, with 45 strikeouts in 43.1 innings.
