UPDATE: Tarik Skubal will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies in his throwing elbow, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. He does not have an official timetable for return, but is expected to be back before the season is over.
The Detroit Tigers take on the Boston Red Sox tonight with first pitch scheduled for 6:10 p.m. ET. However, this matchup may have swung before the game even starts with a superstar pitcher scratched from his scheduled start.
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal has been scratched on Monday. Details are scarce on the exact reason, but reporting from Jon Heyman of the New York Post suggests it’s seen as a precautionary measure.
Skubal, a back-to-back Cy Young winner, has pitched to the tune of a 2.70 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in seven starts this season. He’s also struck out 45 hitters across his 43.1 IP, garnering an elite 92nd-percentile grade in chase rate and a 98th-percentile mark in BB%.
Without the superstar arm on the mound, this may be a much closer game than previously anticipated. It seems Detroit’s rotation won’t be shaken up too much though, with reliever Tyler Holton expected to open in Skubal’s place tonight. He’s thrown 13.2 innings in 2026 with a 5.27 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and 10 punchouts.
The Tigers are 18-17 on the season, second in the AL Central. They’re coming off a series win against the Texas Rangers with back-to-back victories before opening the homestand against the Red Sox at home this evening.
Stay tuned to DK Network for more updates as they become available.
