Tigers Announce Tarik Skubal News on Sunday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Sep 21, 2025 1:01 PM ET

The Detroit Tigers are entering Sunday with just a one-game lead in the AL Central over the Cleveland Guardians, as the teams have gone in completely opposite directions during the most crucial stretch of the season.

Detroit’s collapse can be attributed to the team’s lack of depth at starting pitcher and the offense’s inability to produce runs in the month of September. The Tigers are spiraling and will be forced to lean on their ace, Tarik Skubal, down the stretch. The 28-year-old southpaw has been just as excellent in 2025 as he was during his breakout season last year, posting a 2.23 ERA, 13–5 record and 233 strikeouts through just 189 1/3 innings of work. Skubal remains the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award, which would give him the honor in back-to-back seasons.

A.J. Hinch Announces Plan for Tarik Skubal Heading Into Final Week

Skubal had routinely been pitching on five or six days of rest entering September, when the Tigers held a more commanding lead in the division to prevent injury down the stretch and have the team’s ace fully rested heading into the postseason.

Unfortunately for Detroit, both goals will not come to fruition. Skubal was forced to exit with left side tightness on Sept. 12, although it appears he has fully recovered since then. On Sunday, the Tigers announced via manager A.J. Hinch that Skubal would be bumped up to start on Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians on four days of rest.

A.J. Hinch just confirmed it will be Skubal on Tuesday and Flaherty on Wednesday. Thursday TBA.
— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) September 21, 2025

This move carries weight for several reasons. It gives Hinch the flexibility to deploy Skubal in the season finale against the Boston Red Sox on four days of rest — if the Tigers need their ace to clinch a postseason berth. However, starting him on both Tuesday and Sunday would likely rule him out for the wild-card series, leaving Detroit at a clear disadvantage in a three-game set without their top arm.

With the Guardians surging — they have won 10 in a row and 15 of their last 16 entering Sunday — the final stretch will almost certainly matter. The upcoming series against Cleveland looms large, and if Detroit can flip the momentum and pull off a sweep, it could set up a well-rested Skubal for October. If not, Hinch may have no choice but to use him and enter round one shorthanded.

The Tigers’ recent slide has certainly complicated the plans for a club that appeared likely to cruise into the postseason just a month ago.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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