ST. PETERSBURG, FL – It’s not official yet.
But Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal is on track to begin a rehab assignment, possibly Saturday, June 6, with Triple-A Toledo against the Chicago Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa – as long as he feels healthy in the 24-48 hours following Monday’s simulated game.
This time, Skubal worked into the fifth inning on 64 pitches.
“I feel great now,” Skubal said after Monday’s session. “I need to sleep well and wake up and see how I feel tomorrow. I’m going to be general-pitching sore, but that’s a good thing. I feel great.”
In Monday’s simulated game, Skubal faced three right-handed hitters from the Tigers: Jake Rogers, Zack Short and Jahmai Jones. He was responsible for one single, one double, one walk and six strikeouts, throwing 45 of 64 pitches for strikes.
The final matchup?
It was an eight-pitch battle between Skubal and Jones.
Jones walked on eight pitches.
“Execution was a lot better,” Skubal said. “It was who I am on the mound. Sinkers to the glove side was a highly executed pitch, some spin backdoor. I got a little below late, as I probably got a little tired, but early execution was great. Curveball execution in-zone was great. Some four-seam command could probably be a little bit better, especially late in counts, but at that point, I’m nitpicking.”
Manager A.J. Hinch watched from behind home plate.
“He was really good today,” Hinch said after Monday’s session. “It was obviously a step in the right direction in continuing to show progress. Velo was normal, which means high. His reactions are starting to get even more and more competitive. To me, that’s signalizing that he’s getting closer to pitching competitively than he is rehabbing.”
Skubal seems ready for a rehab assignment at the Triple-A level with the Mud Hens, but rain is in the forecast in Des Moines on Saturday and Sunday, which could alter the location of his rehab start.
After the rehab start, though?
Skubal should be ready to join the Tigers.
“We’ll see how the next 24-48 hours go,” Hinch said. “We will have a plan in place to see what’s next for him, but it’s great to see him throw the ball the way that he did today.”
This story will be updated.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tarik Skubal: ‘I feel great’ as simulated game sets up rehab start
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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