Skubal's Rusty Return
Cleveland Guardians Extend Win Streak Against Tigers; Skubal Struggles in Return
The Cleveland Guardians beat the Detroit Tigers 3-1 on Saturday, extending their season dominance to six straight wins over their division rival. The result drops Detroit to 29-42 — 13 games below .500 — despite the return of reigning two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal from elbow surgery, according to Detroit News.
Skubal, who missed 45 days after having a loose body removed from his left elbow, threw 80 pitches across 4.2 innings. He allowed three runs and took the loss. The Tigers' offense did him no favors, going 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, per Yahoo Sports.
Skubal Returns But Rust Shows in Four Innings
Skubal's first start since May 6 began with promise. Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Gleyber Torres doubled and Dillon Dingler drove him in with an RBI single, according to WRAL. But the lead didn't last. In the second, a throwing error by third baseman Hao-Yu Lee allowed Travis Bazzana to score and tie the game at 1-1.
The decisive blow came in the third. Cleveland's Daniel Schneemann hit a 384-foot, two-run home run — his fifth of the season — off Skubal, putting the Guardians up 3-1. Skubal finished with 5 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts. After the game, he said his challenge was "to keep the game as the game — not trying to make up for the last five weeks I've been gone," per Detroit News.
Cleveland Loses Three Starters to Injury in One Game
The Guardians won, but it cost them. Right fielder Chase DeLauter hit the outfield wall in the first inning chasing a fly ball. He left with a right rib cage contusion. Angel Martinez also fouled a pitch off his foot in the same inning, per WRAL. Then, in the sixth inning, franchise cornerstone Jose Ramirez was pulled from the game with an undisclosed injury.
Cleveland's "next man up" depth held. Cade Smith came on and earned his MLB-leading 23rd save of the season, recording four outs to close out the game. Smith stranded two Detroit runners on second and third base in the ninth to seal the win, according to Yahoo Sports.
Tigers' Offense Goes Cold When It Matters Most
Detroit's 0-for-12 performance with runners in scoring position was the story of the game. The Tigers had chances but couldn't cash them in. Manager A.J. Hinch had called Skubal's return a massive boost before the game. "We're adding the best pitcher in baseball back to our mix," Hinch said. "It's hard to describe what that boost will be," per Detroit News. Instead, the offense let him down.
The Tigers are now 6-0 against the Guardians this season — in the wrong direction. Cleveland has beaten Detroit all six times they've met in 2026. Skubal's velocity looked fine, but analysts noted his location was erratic. His 93 mph sinker to Schneemann ended up over the fence, per Winnipeg Free Press.
Skubal's Health Raises Trade Deadline Questions for Detroit
Despite the loss, Tigers fans found one silver lining: Skubal came through his start healthy. The NanoNeedle arthroscopic procedure he had on May 6 typically sidelines pitchers for two to three months. He came back in 45 days. That speed of recovery is rare, and it matters — because Skubal is in the final year of his contract before hitting free agency in 2027, per Detroit News.
With Detroit sitting 13 games under .500, national analysts are already asking whether the Tigers will hold onto Skubal or sell. Teams like the Dodgers and Yankees are seen as likely suitors at the July trade deadline. If Detroit keeps sliding, the front office may face a decision it does not want to make about the best pitcher in baseball.
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