Tarik Skubal is returning to Detroit ... to pitch against the Tigers

Tony Paul, The Detroit News on Aug 20, 2026

Published in Baseball

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DETROIT — Yes, Tarik Skubal will pitch in Detroit.

Skubal, the former Tigers ace, is on track to start against his former team during the three-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tigers at Comerica Park set for Friday, Aug. 28, through Sunday, Aug. 30.

Skubal is scheduled to start Saturday for the Dodgers, and on five days' rest (the Dodgers use a six-man rotation), he would be in line to start against the Tigers next Saturday, Aug. 29. The Dodgers haven't officially set their rotation that far out, but even on four days' rest or six days' rest, Skubal still would be in line to start during the series in Detroit.

It will mark Skubal's first start against the Tigers since he was dealt away in early August for three Dodgers prospects. Skubal, the two-time Cy Young winner, made his last start for the Tigers at Comerica Park on July 29.

Skubal pitched his entire career for the Tigers, who drafted him in the ninth round out of Seattle University in 2018, before he was traded earlier this month with Tigers president Scott Harris determining the better play was to trade Skubal and collect the assets rather than risk losing him for nothing more than a draft pick at the end of the season, when Skubal will be a free agent and in line to collect a $400 million free-agent contract that Detroit will not pay.

Skubal won the AL Cy Young Award in 2024 and 2025, but his 2026 season was derailed by an elbow injury in late April and early May that required arthroscopic surgery. He returned in June.

Skubal, 29, was 7-5 with a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts for the Tigers this season. Since he was traded away, Skubal is 0-2 with a 3.18 ERA with three starts for the Dodgers.

For Skubal, the Tigers acquired right-handed pitchers Brady Smith and River Ryan, who are on the injured list at High-A West Michigan and Triple-A Toledo, respectively, and Double-A outfielder Zyhir Hope. Two days later, the Tigers traded another starting pitcher, Casey Mize, to the San Diego Padres for High-A left-hander Kash Mayfield, also on IL.