Detroit Tigers could be in for interesting second-half with Tarik Skubal back on the bump

Tarik Skubal is expected to be back on the bump for the Detroit Tigers this week, which could mark the end of a stretch of abysmal injury luck for the Tigers as it relates to their stable of pitchers.

Skubal's return is the highlight for the Tigers but it's far from the only good news. Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez is also expected to return from a left index finger pulley rupture that has had him on the injured list since late May. Before he was injured, Rodriguez was undoubtedly the best pitcher on Detroit's roster, posting an ERA of 2.13 with 16 walks and 67 strikeouts ins 67 2/3 innings in 2023.

"We'll have Skubal on Tuesday and E-Rod on Wednesday, in pencil," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said via Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. "It sounds like those guys are both doing well. We need one last evaluation before that happens, but in pencil, they are our starters."

Bringing back Skubal and Rodriguez at this point of the season is huge for the Tigers. Yes, they're nine games under .500, but Detroit is only four games back of AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins. The Tigers haven't been great this season, but they have been plagued by injuries — especially at pitchers. There are only so many "bullpen days" Hinch can work through while keeping the team competitive. 

With Skubal and Rodriguez back, along with the impending returns of Akil Baddoo and star center fielder Riley Greene (.296 AVG, .805 OPS, 1.6 WAR before a stress fracture in his left fibula), the Tigers could be setting themselves up for a very interesting second half of the season.

Far more interesting, at least, than most would have expected in general manager Scott Harris's first season tinkering under the hood, which — at this juncture of the rebuild — has to be good enough for fans of the Tigers.

Skubal's ERA was 3.52 with 32 walks and 117 strikeouts in 117 2/3 innings in 2022. He notched 17 scoreless innings in his final three starts before being shut down and ultimately undergoing flexor tendon surgery in mid-August.