Tarik Skubal will return to Detroit later this month, and not just to pick up his belongings.
The Los Angeles Dodgers play the Tigers at Comerica Park on Aug. 28-30, which will mark the return of Detroit’s now-former ace and two-time reigning Cy Young winner.
Skubal was traded from the Tigers to the Dodgers on Sunday in a blockbuster move ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.
Skubal, 29, will make his first start for the Dodgers against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. The question Tigers fans want to know: Would that put him line to start against Detroit at Comerica Park?
The simple answer is: Stay tuned.
If he starts Tuesday and the Dodgers pitch him every six games (they use a six-man rotation, though they haven’t said exactly what their plan is for Skubal) then he would just miss the Tigers series. That’s assuming the Dodgers don’t have any rainouts. The Dodgers also have three days off between now and then, so if they decide to pitch Skubal every six days, then he would be in line to start Aug. 28 against the Tigers, the team that drafted him in the ninth round of the 2018 draft and developed him into one of the best pitchers in the game.
A closer look:
If Skubal pitches every six games: Tuesday at Cubs, Aug. 11 vs. Royals, Aug. 17 at Rockies, Aug. 25 at Braves, Sept. 1 vs. Cardinals
If Skubal pitches every six days: Tuesday at Cubs, Aug. 10 vs. Royals, Aug. 16 vs. Brewers, Aug. 22 vs. Pirates, Aug. 28 at Tigers
There are lots of other variables, too, including whether Skubal would push to be on his own five-game schedule, like he’s been much of his career, and if the Dodgers would even oblige. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts uses the six-man rotation to help with pitchers’ health and workload, with an eye squarely on the postseason. Skubal also is a free agent-to-be who had elbow surgery in May.
Just for fun, let’s look at an every-five scenario for Skubal, too:
If Skubal pitches every five games: Tuesday at Cubs, Aug. 10 vs. Royals, Aug. 15 vs. Brewers, Aug. 21 vs. Pirates, Aug. 27 at Braves
If Skubal pitches every five days: Tuesday at Cubs, Aug. 9 at Diamondbacks, Aug. 14 vs. Brewers, Aug. 19 at Rockies, Aug. 25 at Braves, Aug. 30 at Tigers
This much we do know. If the Dodgers value Skubal making his starts at Dodger Stadium (and why wouldn’t they?), there are easy and flexible workarounds to assure that, whether Skubal goes every six or every five. The Dodgers probably would consider Skubal’s wishes about whether he wants to pitch against the Tigers in Detroit, too.
Skubal made his last start for the Tigers at Comerica Park on Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits in 6⅔ innings against the Baltimore Orioles in a game the Tigers lost, 10-9, in 12 innings after leading 7-0.
Skubal left in the seventh inning to a standing ovation from Tigers fans.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Dodgers visit Tigers Aug. 28-30: Will Tarik Skubal pitch in series?
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tony Paul, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
