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What happened: Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal will undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies in his left elbow, manager A.J. Hinch announced. The two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner was scratched from his most recent scheduled start. Hinch did not provide a specific timetable for his return.

Why it matters: Losing the back-to-back AL Cy Young winner is a significant blow to Detroit's rotation and postseason aspirations. Skubal has been the anchor of the Tigers' staff and one of the most dominant arms in baseball. Procedures of this type typically sideline pitchers for several weeks, threatening Detroit's positioning in a competitive AL Central race.

What to watch: Watch for an updated recovery timeline from the Tigers following the procedure. Detroit's rotation depth and any potential trade-deadline response will be in focus.

Sources

  • @espn