Latest Tarik Skubal rotation change has Tigers dreaming of a World Series matchup

Once the Detroit Tigers return home for a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs this weekend, it will be a glimpse at what a potential World Series matchup may look like for each team. Entering play on Wednesday, the Tigers have the best record in baseball with a mark of 40-22. The Cubs are right on their heels, only 1 game behind the Tigers with a record of 38-22.

The series will have a national audience for the first two games, as Friday night's game will be broadcast on Apple TV+ and Saturday afternoon's game will be shown on MLB Network. Given that this is a potential World Series preview, the Tigers quietly made a change to their starting rotation.

Instead of starting the Tigers' final game of a four-game set against the Chicago White Sox, Skubal's original spot in the rotation will be taken by Casey Mize. Instead, Skubal will be the starter for Friday night's game against the Cubs.

Tarik Skubal's next start sets the stage for a potential Tigers World Series preview

Tigers fans have certainly taken notice of how Skubal has been handled in recent games, but in this case, there likely won't be many complaints. Despite their 8-1 loss to the White Sox on Tuesday night, the Tigers can afford to give Skubal an extra day of rest when they have teams like the White Sox on their schedule, whenever possible.

In this case, baseball fans across the country are thanking the Tigers for this decision as Skubal, despite some recent disrespect from ESPN, is making a strong case to win the American League Cy Young Award. An impressive outing against the Cubs on Friday would only strengthen his candidacy.

The Cubs have yet to reveal who will be starting against Skubal and the Tigers on Friday. For the Cubs, that is the spot in the rotation occupied by young starting pitcher Ben Brown. However, for Brown's last turn in the rotation, the Cubs turned to an opener and had Drew Pomeranz pitch the first inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds last week before Brown entered and pitched six scoreless innings. That could be the same approach that the Tigers face on Friday night.