Tigers insider attempts to provide Tarik Skubal return timeline but fans are now more mad

The reporting of Tarik Skubal's injury has taken on a life of its own. Skubal's scratch from the Detroit Tigers' Monday game against the Boston Red Sox went from being a precautionary measure to confirmation that the reigning two-time Cy Young Award winner needs surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow in less than an hour. Even now, Tigers fans can't get the clear answers they want.

Dating back to the offseason and even last season, the conversation surrounding Skubal can't be had without the backdrop of his impending free agency at the end of this season. It's why Tigers fans are anxious to understand the timeline for Skubal's recovery. Is there a chance that Skubal has pitched his last game in a Tigers uniform? Will he be ready for Detroit's playoff push in September?

At the moment, those answers are unclear. The general timeline is that a pitcher could return from the surgery within three months, but there are instances where the timeline could be extended. For reference, Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón had surgery last October to shave a bone spur and remove loose bodies from his elbow, and he wasn't ready in time for Opening Day.

Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press spoke with a surgeon, and it sounds like the extent of the recovery needed for Skubal won't be determined until after the surgery has been completed. There are a variety of factors, including how much stiffness and mobility Skubal has in his elbow, but also the number of loose bodies that need to be cleaned up. If it's minimal, then the expectation should be that Skubal pitches again for the Tigers this season. If it's extensive, then there's a chance that Skubal misses the rest of the season and may not reach the level of production he was at before the injury.

Tigers fans just want answers on Tarik Skubal's status

The silver lining is that the early word is that Skubal's previous Tommy John surgery and flexor tendon surgery shouldn't impact his recovery this time around. The surgeon cautioned that it won't be known completely until the elbow is examined, but assuming no further damage is discovered, the previous surgeries won't delay his timeline.

It would seem that the answers Tigers fans want won't be had until the next update is provided on Skubal's status. That likely will arrive after the surgery has been completed, and from there, a timeline should be clear. For now, as uncomfortable as it is, Tigers fans have to live in the unknown.

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