Chicago Cubs Triple-A Affiliate Gearing Up For Legendary Week

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Chicago Cubs Triple-A Affiliate Gearing Up For Legendary Week

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Tommy Erbe | Last updated Jun 2, 2026 11:45 AM ET

The Chicago Cubs have had many young prospects come through their pipeline over the last decade and make an impact at the MLB level. The system has produced talent such as Nico Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong , and Moises Ballesteros. But this week, Triple-A Iowa players may be in awe of what they’ll be facing on the mound.

The Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, the Toledo Mud Hens, is coming to Des Moines, Iowa, to take on the Cubs. With them will be Justin Verlander and, possibly, Tarik Skubal, a future Hall-of-Famer and a back-to-back Cy Young Award winner. Good luck, gentlemen.

Detroit Tigers to Rehab Justin Verlander and (Maybe) Tarik Skubal Against Triple-A Iowa Cubs.

Justin Verlander, rehabbing from a left hip injury, will start for the Mud Hens on Tuesday. He made just one start for the Tigers in his return to Detroit before going on the injured list. Then, on Saturday, Tarik Skubal is currently scheduled to take the mound in his first action since surgery to remove loose bodies from his throwing arm. That is still pending.

Facing Verlander will be an opportunity for some of the Cubs players to face a pitcher they grew up watching. Skubal on the mound may give the Cubs a chance to scout how he’s recovering from surgery for, you know, trade purposes. We’ve got a big week coming up for the fine folks in Des Moines. As Pat Hughes always tells us, “The S’s are silent, but the city’s a-buzzin!”

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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