RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesDetroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal will make his start as scheduled in the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, July 29.
Skubal confirmed in the clubhouse on Tuesday that he would pitch, shortly after manager A.J. Hinch said so. It is Skubal's final scheduled start ahead of the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline, leading to speculation that the start could be skipped if he were to be moved.
Skubal, the reigning two-time American League Cy Young winner, is the biggest potential domino heading into the deadline given his immense talent and expiring contract at the end of the 2026 season. The Tigers, at 50-57, sit 4½ games out of the final AL wild-card spot with five games left before the deadline.
"We are trying to win a series so that puts us in a better position to be a playoff team," Hinch said. "The information I have is to win the series. We have to win tonight in order to put us in that position, so I am fully expecting him to pitch."
Skubal is looking forward to crossing the 1,000 career strikeout plateau on Wednesday. The Tigers lefty currently has 999 career punchouts.
"I am pitching tomorrow," Skubal said. "I got something cool that I want to accomplish at home, so that won't change."
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Kerry Carpenter receives cortisone shot
Right fielder Kerry Carpenter received a cortisone shot in his left foot on Tuesday. Carpenter was placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday after being diagnosed with plantar fasciitis – inflammation of the ligaments on the bottom of the foot.
"If that sounds awful, it probably is," Hinch said. "I don't know. I have never had one, but I am sure it is not comfortable."
Carpenter hopes his time on the injured list will be closer to the minimum instead of an extended absence. He said it has been hard to put weight on his left heel for the last few weeks, hindering his ability to run. He said he felt a small pop in his foot, indicating a tear in the fascia, in his final at-bat Sunday.
"I hope it is not that long," Carpenter said. "I guess we will see how I progress. I was really fighting to not even go on the IL. But I think it is probably good to give it some rest."
The Tigers called up catcher Eduardo Valencia to fill Carpenter's roster spot on Monday. After catcher Jake Rogers was designated for assignment to create room for Javier Báez , Valencia will slide into the backup catcher role. Báez will mostly play in center field.
Jack Flaherty not throwing yet
Tigers right-handed starter Jack Flaherty is still waiting to return to throwing. The Tigers put Flaherty on the 15-day injured list with flexor tendon inflammation in his right arm on July 22.
"Jack is going to be more than the minimum [15 days]," Hinch said. "So I guess I can confirm that. He's not throwing. We've gotten to the bottom of exactly what it is and now everyone is weighing in on when to do the plyos and when to get into short toss and when you get into throwing."
Right-hander Jackson Jobe, who is over a year into his recovery from Tommy John surgery, will throw a bullpen session in Detroit in front of the Tigers pitching coaches on Tuesday. His bullpen will line him up for another rehab start with Triple-A Toledo this upcoming weekend.
Reliever Brant Hurter is also scheduled to throw a bullpen session. Hurter is on the 60-day IL with lumbar spine inflammation.
Contact Jared Ramsey at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tarik Skubal to make next start for Tigers despite trade rumors
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