Detroit Tigers: Tarik Skubal seems ready to return to MLB

Detroit Tigers preparing for Tarik Skubal to return.

The Detroit Tigers have been sitting back and waiting patiently as Tarik Skubal continues to work through his rehab start. The southpaw continues to inch closer to a return, and it sounds like he is getting to the point where he is ready to jump back to the MLB level.

In a time when the Detroit Tigers have been struggling to keep pitchers healthy, having Skubal come back will only help them. There's plenty to look forward to with Skubal, knowing he can return to the mound and try to be his usual self.

While it was announced that the Tigers will be without Matthew Boyd for the rest of the season, it will be good to get another left-handed pitcher back to join the rotation, especially being one of the big prospects.

Skubal underwent flexor tendon surgery, and it has undoubtedly been a long road back to the big leagues. But the latest news seems to be that Skubal will not make any more starts in the minors; he will be cleared to move back to the big leagues and make his starts with the Tigers moving forward.

It will be a huge addition for the Tigers to get him back after making five rehab starts on his way to the big leagues. He spent time with High-A West Michigan and Triple-A Toledo with the Mud Hens.

With High-A West Michigan, Skubal made two starts totaling 5.0 innings, allowing three hits, no earned runs, no walks, and seven strikeouts to his credit. It may have been brief, but it was an excellent chance to get him back on his feet on a pro-ball mound.

He jumped up to Toledo, making three starts with the Mud Hens. He totaled 9.2 innings pitched, allowing two runs on six hits with three walks and 13 strikeouts. It may not be super dominant, but it was good for him to get a feel for his pitches again.

The left-hander will jump back into the rotation and look to find his footing to piece together an excellent second half of the season. This comes after the 2022 season, where he had made 21 starts, totaling 117.2 innings pitched, where he accumulated a 3.52 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP.

He managed 117 strikeouts to just 32 walks as well and looked really sharp before he ended up on the Injured List (IL). But after a long road to recovery, the Tigers are going to get their young southpaw back.