Detroit Tigers Starting Pitcher Tarik Skubal Set To Make Next Start Against Cleveland Guardians

You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from every Tigers fan across Detroit. On Monday, the man, the myth, the legend himself, Tarik Skubal, stepped onto the mound for his usual bullpen session. The city held its breath. After his sudden exit from Friday’s game in Miami with what was described as “left-side tightness,” the fate of the Tigers’ playoff dreams seemed to hang by a thread. A thread that Skubal, with his powerful left arm, now holds.

Breaking Down the Good News

The good news? The session went off without a hitch. No tightness, no discomfort, no sign of the grimace that sent a wave of panic through the “Motor City” just days ago. Barring some cruel twist of fate, Skubal is set to take the mound on Thursday for the series finale against the Guardians. This isn’t just another game; it’s a divisional showdown that could very well punch Detroit’s ticket to its first AL Central title since 2014. No pressure, Tarik.

Skubal, in his typically understated fashion, simply said, “It’s on to the next one.“ That’s it. That’s the tweet. For Manager A.J. Hinch and the entire Tigers organization, those five words were sweeter than a walk-off homer. While initial tests had thankfully shown no structural damage, seeing their ace throw with intent was the real confirmation they needed.

Skubal’s Mindset: Pushing Past the Scare

Interestingly, Skubal admitted he was a bit worried during the game. Who wouldn’t be? But after getting checked out by the trainers, his concern faded. To prove it to himself as much as to the team, he didn’t just go through the motions in his bullpen session. He cranked it up.

“If anything, I probably worked a little bit harder, just to make sure that I was good to go,” Skubal said. “There was nothing there, so it was all good.” That’s the kind of grit that defines an ace. He faced down the fear of a season-ending injury and basically told it to sit down.

Why Skubal is the Guardians’ Kryptonite

It’s impossible to overstate just how critical having a healthy Skubal is for this series. To say he’s dominated the Guardians this season would be an understatement. Across two starts, he’s pitched 16 scoreless innings, allowing a measly five hits and striking out 23 batters. The last time Cleveland visited Comerica Park, Skubal threw a two-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts, capping it off with a 102.6 mph fastball—the fastest pitch by a Tiger since Statcast started tracking. He essentially owns them.

This series is more than just a few games in September; it’s the culmination of a decade of rebuilding, hoping, and waiting. For Tigers fans, the thought of entering a do-or-die series without their Cy Young candidate was a nightmare. Now, with Skubal back on track, that nightmare has turned back into a dream. A dream of October baseball, loud crowds, and a chance to erase some not-so-pleasant postseason memories of the past.