Tigers to lose superstar Tarik Skubal for next few months after elbow surgery

[p]The move came after an elbow injury flared up on Sunday, with neither the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-tigers/0QIlt8pi/"]Tigers[/a] nor the 29-year-old left-hander putting a timetable on his return from an injury that typically requires a two- or three-month recovery.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/skubal-tarik/zuS2jB1J/"]Skubal[/a] was pulled from a scheduled Monday start against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-red-sox/zaXTinF3/"]Boston[/a] five days after an injury scare last Wednesday against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atlanta-braves/0UPxbDYA/"]Atlanta[/a] and sent to the injured list.[/p][embed guid="73b313b7-d8cf-41ea-8e04-c26579eb2150" url="https://x.com/MLB/status/2051383537639559373?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Skubal shook his left arm and grabbed his forearm in Atlanta. He prepared for his next start but suffered a setback in work on Sunday.[/p][p][b]"I thought I was progressing in a very positive manner,"[/b] Skubal said. [b]"Yesterday's catch play just didn't really go great, which led to getting scans and getting the information."[/b][/p][p]Skubal won a record $32 million arbitration decision to pitch this season and will be a free agent after the campaign.[/p][p][b]"This is something I've kind of been dealing with," [/b]Skubal said. [b]“But then again, it was progressing in a positive manner, so I wasn't very concerned about it."[/b][/p][p]Skubal has no ligament damage and is likely to pitch again this season.[/p][p][b]"From my understanding, you just go take (the loose bodies) out,"[/b] Skubal said. [b]"I'm going to come back and be the same guy. I'm not really too worried about that."[/b][/p][p]Skubal is 3-2 this season with a 2.70 earned-run average and 45 strikeouts in 43.3 innings for the Tigers, who share the AL Central division lead with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cleveland-guardians/4K05MrFG/"]Cleveland[/a] at 18-17.[/p][embed guid="5e543f70-e25d-4ed3-8574-29817961f529" url="https://x.com/MLB/status/2045623515357839545?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Skubal had Tommy John ligament replacement surgery and missed the 2017 college season, then had left forearm tendon surgery in August 2022 and missed 11 months.[/p][p]Since then, Skubal has gone 41-15 with a 2.41 ERA in 511 innings over 84 starts. He led the AL in wins, strikeouts, and ERA in 2024 for the pitching Triple Crown.[/p]