RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Tarik Skubal is poised to make his return to Detroit, albeit this time in a new jersey.
The left-handed ace hasn't pitched at Comerica Park since July 29, but that was as a member of the Detroit Tigers.
Skubal was traded ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Tigers got back three minor league players: Zyhir Hope, River Ryan, and Brady Smith. The trade was criticized on social media after such a low return was announced for such a marquee player.
The southpaw is under contract only for the remainder of the 2026 season. Detroit knew that Skubal was approaching free agency and hadn't been able to come to terms with him. Rather than risking him walking for nothing, the Tigers opted to trade him.
Now, Skubal will hit free agency this offseason, barring a blockbuster extension with the Dodgers.
On Wednesday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Skubal would be starting for the team on Friday. It will be the series opener for a three-game series against the Tigers that could also see the return of Shohei Ohtani to the mound .
Skubal has yet to reach Cy Young status with Dodgers
The Los Angeles ace is coming off back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards. When he was traded to the Dodgers, Skubal had a 7-5 record with a 2.79 ERA. He had struck out 116 batters in 96 2/3 innings of work.
Since being acquired, the southpaw has made four appearances. He has a 1-2 record with a 3.38 ERA, allowing nine earned runs in 24 innings. His nine earned runs this month are more than he allowed in the entire month of July with the Tigers.
Skubal's strikeout numbers have rebounded. He struck out six hitters in each of his first starts in Dodger blue, but then punched out seven against the Milwaukee Brewers and is coming off an 11-strikeout performance against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Friday night's game will come with a lot of emotion. Skubal will likely want to show appreciation for the Detroit fans, but part of him will certainly want to keep improving his pitching to show the Tigers just what they lost by trading him away earlier this month.
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