Tigers Pitcher Tarik Skubal Exits Game with Injury
Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal had to leave the game during the fourth inning of Friday’s 8-2 defeat against the Marlins due to injury.
At 28, Skubal seemed to be in discomfort, grabbing at his left side after a short discussion on the mound. This came just after Tigers manager A.J. Hinch removed him following his 45th pitch of the outing.
The team later announced in the sixth inning that Skubal would be evaluated after experiencing tension in his left side.
It was reported that Skubal will undergo imaging the following day to assess the severity of his injury. He has had a challenging recovery history, missing significant portions of both the 2022 and 2023 seasons because of torn flexor tendons. He also had Tommy John surgery back in college.
This season, Skubal had been performing well before the injury. He had a rocky start on Friday, allowing one run on four hits over three innings.
Before this game, Skubal had been a standout player, posting a 2.10 ERA and leading the American League with 222 strikeouts in 180 innings across 28 starts. Many had considered him a frontrunner for a second consecutive Cy Young Award.
He told reporters last month that the period from late July to early August was particularly taxing for him, both mentally and physically.
“From the last week of July until early August, I felt physically and mentally exhausted,” he explained. “After getting through it once, I’m focusing on my pitching and being the best version of myself for when the games really matter, especially in the postseason. Every out and every batter counts, and I need to be at my best so our team can win.”
Manager Hinch noted that the mental challenges that come later in the season are a reality for all players in the league.
“I don’t think he’s being overly hard on himself,” Hinch remarked. “It’s important to keep your standards high. Preparing for a stretch run in September and hopefully October is a demanding part of the season, and he’ll need to learn how to navigate it.”
