Tigers Notes: Skubal, Verlander, Mize Nearing Return from Injury

Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is one step closer to rejoining the big league rotation after a dominant rehab start for High-A West Michigan. The two-time Cy Young winner tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just two singles and striking out six batters on 54 pitches, 44 of which were for strikes. Skubal had undergone NanoScope arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow just a month ago, and his performance suggests he is on track for a return to Detroit.

Following his outing, Skubal went to the bullpen to throw additional pitches, according to The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen. That move indicates he is not yet at a pitch limit and could be ready for a start with the Tigers as soon as next week. Manager A.J. Hinch had previously indicated Skubal might only need one rehab appearance if things went smoothly, and this start appears to have met that threshold.

Justin Verlander is also progressing toward a return after missing time with left hip inflammation. The Tigers legend is set to make a second rehab start for Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday. In his first rehab appearance last week, Verlander threw five scoreless innings and recorded three strikeouts. A third rehab start is not expected unless there is a setback.

Casey Mize and Kenley Jansen are both scheduled to pitch on Tuesday in their respective rehab assignments. Mize, who landed on the injured list with right adductor inflammation at the end of May, is expected to need only one rehab start for Single-A Lakeland before rejoining the Tigers’ rotation. Jansen, who hit the IL with pelvic inflammation around the same time, is also on track to return after one rehab appearance.

With Skubal, Verlander, and Mize all nearing their returns, the Tigers will need to manage a crowded rotation. The team currently has four healthy starters in Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty, Keider Montero, and Troy Melton. Hinch acknowledged the challenge of integrating three returning arms into the rotation, saying, “We’ll work our way through how to slide guys in...but it’s not as simple as just ‘disrupt everything’ and insert three-fifths of a rotation or three-sixths of a rotation if we go to the sixth man” (per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press).

The Tigers are expected to make decisions on their rotation this week as the returns of key pitchers create both opportunity and complexity.