Tigers’ Tarik Skubal takes big step toward injury return on Tuesday

With fans wondering what the injury timeline for Detroit Tigers star Tarik Skubal looks like, the pitcher continues to make positive progress in his recovery. As rumors surround the Tigers pitcher in Skubal regarding a potential trade in the future, Tuesday marked another step in the right direction.

As seen by Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, Skubal was facing hitters on Tuesday as the team looks to get the 29-year-old ready for a return to the mound in a game fairly soon. Skubal has missed time after getting surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow, as his last start came on April 29 against the Atlanta Braves.

Tarik Skubal is facing hitters today pic.twitter.com/2UjnEeTi7Z

— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) May 26, 2026

While there had been reports saying that Skubal could return very soon, the Detroit pitcher would downplay those talks and say that he’s looking to reach a balance of being fully healthy and wanting to return as soon as possible.

“I want to be back as fast as I can, too. What’s going on right now is kind of unprecedented. I don’t know in the history of the game if there’s been a surgery 15 days ago, and I’m throwing a one-inning hypothetical start. I don’t know if that’s ever really been done before. So I get it. I want to be back as fast as possible. I also want to be healthy,” Skubal said last Thursday, via Stavenhagen.

Tigers’ Tarik Skubal on taking it “day by day”

This season for the Tigers, Skubal has recorded a 2.70 ERA to go along with 45 strikeouts and a 3-2 record, as the pitcher is coming off back-to-back AL Cy Young award-winning seasons.

“But it is kind of day by day,” Skubal said about his injury recovery. “It is how I feel and how I bounce back. Tomorrow, how I wake up, how I feel is going to be important. I anticipate it’s going to be really well because I feel great right now.”

At any rate, it remains to be seen when Skubal returns to the Tigers as the team has lost 16 of their last 18 games ahead of the series against the Los Angeles Angels, starting on Tuesday.

The post Tigers’ Tarik Skubal takes big step toward injury return on Tuesday appeared first on ClutchPoints.