Tigers' Skubal faces 2-3 month elbow surgery absence

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow to remove loose bodies, sidelining the two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner for two to three months, manager A.J. Hinch announced Monday. The procedure follows Skubal's arm locking up during a bullpen session Sunday before his scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox. Hinch described the surgery as an easy process.

Skubal's most recent appearance came Wednesday in a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves, where he pitched seven innings, allowed two runs on five hits and struck out seven. He rubbed his arm during that outing, prompting a visit from Hinch and a trainer, but remained in the game after a warmup pitch. With Skubal out, the Tigers recalled Ty Madden from the minors, and Tyler Holton will make a spot start Monday night as an opener.

Skubal won a record $32 million in arbitration this offseason for the 2026 season, topping the Tigers' $19 million offer and surpassing Juan Soto's previous arbitration high by $1 million. He ranks as one of Detroit's top starters alongside players like Jack Flaherty. The left-hander joins Casey Mize and Justin Verlander on the injured list among Tigers pitchers.

The injury timing compounds challenges for Detroit's rotation ahead of Skubal's free agency eligibility after the season. No long-term extension is in place, positioning him as a prime target on the market unless the Tigers re-sign him beforehand. All interested teams will monitor his recovery closely.