Tigers fall to putrid 2-14 with Tarik Skubal on IL after Guardians sweep

Losing one’s best player never helps a team in the standings. The Detroit Tigers have been a prime example of that. The Tigers employ one of the very best players in baseball, Tarik Skubal, and they’ve struggled mightily since the pitcher went down with an elbow injury.

In early May, Skubal underwent surgery to remove a loose body from the elbow of his throwing arm, and he is expected to be out for two to three months. In his absence, the Tigers are just 2-14. Detroit was most recently swept by the Cleveland Guardians, and they are now 9.5 games out of first place in the American League Central. The Tigers are in last place in what is arguably the weakest division in MLB.

Upon his return from the injured list, this slump could lead to Skubal ending up on the trading block. As one of the worst teams in the league, the Tigers are primed to be trade deadline sellers. Teams will be highly interested in Skubal and willing to pay a premium despite the fact that the pitcher is on an expiring contract.

The left-handed pitcher has won the Cy Young award in back-to-back seasons. Including the seven games in which he started this year, he has been below the 3.00 mark for four straight seasons when it comes to ERA, too. Throwing elbow injuries are always worrisome for starting pitchers, but reports suggest that Skubal is progressing nicely from surgery and should return to form upon his return this season.

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