What happened: Yahoo's weekly MLB injury roundup reports that Tarik Skubal is nearing a return after a sharp rehab start, while Aaron Judge has gone down with a rib injury. The update, compiled by Jorge Montanez, surveys the most relevant injury news across the league over the past week.
Why it matters: Skubal's progress matters well beyond the mound: his rehab outing comes amid swirling trade rumors, and a healthy return reshapes both his team's plans and the deadline market. A rib injury to Judge, one of the sport's premier hitters, is a significant blow to his lineup's run production if he misses extended time.
By the numbers: Skubal's last MLB start came April 29 before he underwent elbow surgery in early May, and his club posted one of the majors' worst stretches in his absence. The sharp rehab start is the clearest sign yet that an activation is approaching.
What to watch: Watch for Skubal's next rehab step and a firm activation date, plus the severity and expected timeline of Judge's rib injury.