Tigers ace Tarik Skubal dodges major injury after concerning exit

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MIAMI — Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal had an exam that showed no structural damage after he felt some tightness on his left side on Friday.

“It’s all good news. The scan came back clean,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said before the Tigers’ 6-4 loss to the Marlins on Saturday. “So obviously, that’s great for us and great for him.”

Hinch said Skubal returned to Detroit after the test.

Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at loanDepot park on September 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida. Getty Images

The left-hander is expected to have his next post-start throwing day on Monday.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do to get him through this soreness,” Hinch said. “I don’t like him having any soreness whatsoever or any of our guys. Clearly, we were all waiting for the scan and the evaluation and to have positive news is a good step forward.”

The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner motioned to his dugout when he first felt tightness in the fourth inning of Friday night’s 8-2 loss to Miami.

He departed after a brief conversation with Hinch and a Tigers trainer.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) exits the game against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning at loanDepot Park. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The 28-year-old Skubal was charged with four runs and four hits in 3 1/3 innings.

He is 13-5 with a 2.26 ERA in 29 starts for the AL Central leaders, striking out 224 in 183 1/3 innings.

Hinch said he has not spoken to Skubal directly since the test, but he was informed that the results confirmed he had some tightness by the rib cage area.

“All of that was consistent with what he was saying (Friday),” Hinch said. “So it matched the physical evaluation to go along with the medical evaluation today.”

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) stands on the mound after giving up a home run and a double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Miami. AP

Hinch also said shortstop Javier Báez continues to show swelling and bruising around his left eye but has resumed game preparation.

Báez exited in the second inning Friday after he fouled off a pitch that deflected off the brim of his batting helmet and struck his forehead and near his eye.

“It looks, obviously, that it hurts but he’s reporting that he’s doing fine,” Hinch said.

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