The Detroit Tigers suffered a scare on Friday night when ace left-hander Tarik Skubal left the game in the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins with an apparent injury.
Skubal, who entered the game as the American League Cy Young favorite, was cruising through another start before visibly grabbing at his left side following a pitch. He immediately motioned toward the dugout, prompting manager A.J. Hinch and the training staff to visit the mound. Moments later, the Tigers pulled him from the game.
AL Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal left the game due to injury after reaching for the left side of his body after throwing a pitch pic.twitter.com/LTIZtiRC43
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 13, 2025
Before his exit, Skubal’s night had already been a bumpy ride. He threw 3.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits, including two home runs. For a pitcher who has dominated hitters all season, it was clear something wasn’t right.
Skubal’s Stellar 2025 Season
Prior to Friday’s start, Skubal had put together another outstanding campaign:
- 13-4 record
- 2.10 ERA across 28 starts
- 222 strikeouts in 180 innings
- A staggering 198 ERA+, showing just how far above league average he’s been
This followed his 2024 breakout season, when he went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and struck out 228 batters over 192 innings. Back-to-back seasons of ace-level dominance had cemented him as not only Detroit’s best pitcher, but one of the best arms in baseball.
What We Know So Far
According to reports from Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic and Chris McCosky of The Detroit News, Skubal appeared to be clutching at his left side or rib cage before leaving the game. While the Tigers have yet to provide an official update, the concern is obvious, losing Skubal for any extended period could be a devastating blow to both Detroit’s rotation and their playoff hopes.
Talkin’ Baseball also noted on X (formerly Twitter) that Skubal, widely viewed as the front-runner for the AL Cy Young, left the mound immediately after showing discomfort.
Looking Ahead
Detroit fans will now hold their breath as they await further word from the team. Even if the move was precautionary, Skubal’s health is the single most important factor in the Tigers’ push toward a World Series.
The Tigers’ rotation has been anchored by Skubal all season long, and any extended absence would place enormous pressure on the rest of the staff. For now, the hope is that Friday’s exit was simply a cautious move rather than the start of something bigger.
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