Tigers falter as Skubal exits early with injury concern
The Detroit Tigers faced a disappointing setback on Friday night, suffering an 8-2 defeat against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. This loss not only pushed the Tigers 1½ games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the best record in the American League but also raised alarm bells within the organization due to the premature exit of their ace, Tarik Skubal.
Skubal’s Early Exit
In a concerning turn of events, Skubal left the game in the fourth inning after facing just two batters. The left-hander, who has been a standout performer for Detroit, gestured toward the dugout and engaged in a brief discussion with the trainers before departing the mound. The cause for his exit was identified as tightness in his left side, leaving fans and teammates anxiously awaiting updates.
After the game, Skubal provided insight into the situation. “Certain things happen during the game where you feel some things,” he explained. “And they come and go—just with the game. This was one that didn’t really go away, and that was what prompted me to call for [manager] A.J. [Hinch] and a trainer. I just wasn’t very comfortable letting it go after that.”
A Cautious Approach
With the postseason looming, Skubal emphasized the importance of caution. “At this time of year, with what we’ve got going forward, I didn’t really want to risk doing something that causes me to really miss some time,” he remarked, signaling his desire to prioritize long-term health over immediate competition.
In the brief time he spent on the mound, Skubal surrendered four runs on four hits, including two home runs. Despite this setback marking his fifth loss of the season, the 28-year-old remains the frontrunner for the AL Cy Young award, boasting a stellar ERA of 2.26 and an impressive 224 strikeouts. His performance has been invaluable for a Tigers squad that harbors World Series ambitions amidst struggles from the rest of the starting rotation.
Manager’s Perspective
Manager A.J. Hinch expressed concern regarding Skubal’s condition, noting, “Obviously it’s scary. You don’t know what’s going on, and then we went out there and said he could feel a little tightness in his left side. We were going to take him out right away at that point. He said he could keep throwing, but we weren’t even gonna have him throw a warm-up pitch to see. So we’ve got to get him looked at and see.”
As the Tigers prepare for the second game of the series against the Marlins, scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET, the spotlight will be on the health of their ace. Right-hander Charlie Morton (9-10, 5.59 ERA) is expected to take the mound, hoping to rebound from a difficult outing as the Tigers look to regain their footing in the playoff race.
