An ace is back in the fold.
Detroit Tigers starter Tarik Skubal will return from injury to start Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians, manager AJ Hinch told reporters on Thursday.
The 29-year-old left-hander had a non-invasive procedure on May 6 to remove a loose body from his throwing elbow. Skubal last pitched for the Tigers on April 29.
Skubal is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA in seven starts this season. He has struck out 45 and walked only six over 43.1 innings. Skubal has won the AL Cy Young Award each of the last two seasons.
In a rehab start on Sunday in single-A, Skubal struck out six and allowed two hits while 44 of his 54 pitches went for strikes.
“I think velocity was good,” Skubal told reporters. “Execution was good. I feel like I threw a ton of strikes. I was in the zone a lot today. Good day.”
Skubal returns to a Tigers team that sits tied for last in the AL Central at 28-40. He is set to hit free agency after the season.
--with files from The Associated Press
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