Tigers' Tarik Skubal shines in first rehab start but offers no update on timeline

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal made his first rehab start on Sunday and threw five dominant innings for High-A West Michigan. He allowed just two hits, struck out six and threw 44 of his 54 pitches for strikes against Dayton.

It was the next step in his return to the Tigers rotation as he continues to work his way back from elbow surgery last month.

While it was a big step, there are still going to be several more to take before he makes his way back to the Major Leagues, and he was not ready to offer any sort of an update on that timeline on Sunday.

Tarik Skubal won't say when he plans on returning to Tigers rotation

Skubal has not pitched in the Majors this season since April 29, and while he does seem to be ahead of the initial schedule when he first underwent surgery, he is not in a hurry to put a timeline on his return.

When asked when he will return to Detroit following Sunday's start, Skubal told reporters, via ESPN, "That's a good question that I am not going to answer." 

The bigger question for Tigers fans, however, isn't necessarily when he returns to their rotation, but how many starts he will make for them when he does.

With Skubal facing free agency this summer and the Tigers having little chance of actually re-signing him, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that he is going to be traded before the trade deadline later this summer. Especially as the Tigers fall out of the playoff race in the American League.

As of Sunday, they are 27-39, putting them 9.5 games back in the American League Central standings and 5.5 games back in the American League wild-card race. It is not just the number of games back that is the issue, but also the number of teams between them and a playoff spot. 

Skubal owns a 2.70 ERA in seven starts this season, while striking out 9.3 batters per nine innings. He has won the American League Cy Young Award in each of the previous two seasons.