Tarik Skubal to have arthroscopic elbow surgery, out two to three months

Tarik Skubal, the Detroit Tigers ace and two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, is expected to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow that will keep him sidelined for months, manager AJ Hinch said Monday.

Skubal did not finish the season, but is expected to be out two to three months following surgery to remove loose bodies in his left elbow, ESPN reported.

Hinch called it an “easy process and procedure” when announcing the news, but it’s certainly a blow to the Tigers staff and to Skubal personally to have him sidelined for months.

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Detroit pitcher Tarik Skubal looks on during the Atlanta Braves game on April 29, 2026, at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Rich Von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Skubal’s arm locked up during a bullpen session Sunday before his scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox Monday night. Now he will undergo surgery, with Hinch providing no specific timetable for his return.

Skubal’s last start came in a 4-3 win over the league-leading Atlanta Braves last Wednesday, where he allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings of work. He struck out seven Braves batters in his outing.

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However, during that game, Skubal was seen rubbing his left arm, leading Hinch and a Tigers trainer to go to the mound to check on the pitcher. Skubal, however, stayed in the game after throwing a warm-up pitch, and he went on to pitch seven solid innings.

Following Skubal’s absence, the Tigers recalled Ty Madden to the big leagues. Tyler Holton will also start Monday night, serving as the Tigers’ opener before Hinch needs to get creative with his bullpen.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts after allowing a hit against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 14, 2025. (Jesse Johnson/Imagn Images)

Skubal is the latest Tigers starter to go on injured reserve, joining Casey Mize and Justin Verlander. That leaves Framber Valdez and Jack Flaherty as the only healthy starters at the moment.

For Skubal, the timing isn’t ideal, especially with free agency looming.

Skubal won a record arbitration this offseason, where the Tigers were asked to pay the left-handed ace $32 million for the 2026 campaign after he proposed a $19 million salary. The win exceeded Juan Soto’s 2024 arbitration fee from the New York Yankees by $1 million.

Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers between the fields during the Braves game at Truist Park in Atlanta on April 29, 2026. (Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

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But, with no long-term deal for Skubal, the power starter is expected to be one of the top free agents after the season unless he and the Tigers find a solution before then. It seems unlikely that this will happen at this stage.

All teams interested in Skubal will closely monitor his recovery and possible return. Until then, Hinch and the Tigers will need others to step in in the meantime for the starting rotation.

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