MLB Can’t Ignore Detroit Any Longer: Is Tarik Skubal on Track to Start Saturday

Eat ’em up Tigers, eat ’em up.

Detroit Tigers fans have reason to rejoice after a report surfaced that the club’s ace, who has been sidelined for more than a month on the injured list, could be set to return as soon as this upcoming weekend.

The pain and struggle were very real for the city of Detroit throughout the month of May. The Detroit Pistons, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, gave Detroit sports fans something unexpected to believe in this season: a championship run. The Detroit Tigers entered the year carrying equally lofty expectations and dreams of bringing another title to the city.

But in the span of just four weeks, Detroit was gutted by setback after setback. Hopes were crushed. Dreams vanished. The idea that one could once again look at Detroit and call it “Title Town” became nothing more than a lonely reminder that sports can be as cruel as they are rewarding.

The Tigers caught a virus that felt eerily similar to what the Detroit Lions have battled over the past two seasons. Countless graphics circulated across social media showing just how bad things had become. Millions of dollars sat on the injured list as losses piled up higher than a tower of pancakes at IHOP. Gloomy skies filled the Detroit skyline despite spring doing its best to break through with vibrant colors. Instead, a cloud of black and white seemed to push away any chance of brightness.

Then the calendar flipped.

The news cycle changed.

And just as Tigers fans everywhere were ready to turn the TV off for good, something special happened.

As it normally does in baseball.

That’s why the romance of baseball burns so brightly in every fan. Every baseball fan, player, and even casual observer understands one simple truth: slumps happen, and eventually they end.

Now the Tigers suddenly look like one of the hottest teams in baseball.

Winners of six of their last seven games, the Tigers have given fans plenty of reasons to smile. Even if you’re sitting in urgent care getting a poison ivy shot below the belt, it’s hard not to grin from ear to ear as Detroit continues to stack wins.

These aren’t just ordinary victories, either.

They’re impressive wins featuring explosive offensive performances against quality opponents like the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners. They’ve won in dramatic walk-off fashion. They’ve received contributions from rookies. The Tigers have transformed from scared kitties back into gritty Tigers, and they’re surging at exactly the right time.

Just as the Tigers are beginning to find a long-awaited rhythm, even better news arrived.

According to Detroit Free Press beat writer Evan Petzold, “He woke up Monday without any concerns, putting him on track to return to the Tigers for Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.”

The quote refers to Tarik Skubal’s rehab appearance last Sunday with the West Michigan Whitecaps. The reigning ace threw five strong innings, totaling 54 pitches in the High-A outing. He struck out six batters while allowing just two hits. Afterward, Skubal threw an additional 15 pitches in the bullpen before waking up the following morning feeling healthy and ready to move forward.

For a Tigers team still fighting its way through the American League playoff picture, that’s exactly the type of news fans have been waiting to hear.

The Tigers, who now sit 11 games under .500, are still very much alive in the American League Wild Card race. While the climb remains steep, Detroit has begun to look like the team many expected to see entering the season. With Tarik Skubal nearing a return and the offense finally finding its footing, the Tigers suddenly look like a club nobody wants to face down the stretch.

Last season, Detroit watched the Guardians pull away and seize control of the division race. This year, however, the tide feels different. The Tigers appear hungry, motivated, and eager for revenge.

Getting Skubal back would be a massive step toward accomplishing that goal.

And if Detroit’s ace returns at full strength while the offense continues to heat up, the rest of Major League Baseball may no longer be able to ignore what’s happening in the Motor City.