Tarik Skubal is back in Detroit on Friday, stepping onto the mound at Comerica Park for the first time in a completely different uniform. This isn’t just any old game, though. This is his first face-off against his old team, the Tigers, since they shipped him off to the Los Angeles Dodgers right before the 2026 MLB trade deadline. Talk about a full-circle moment!
The Trade That Had Everyone Shaking Their Heads
Remember that trade? Man, what a wild ride that was. Skubal, a left-handed ace, was dealt for a package of three minor league players: Zyhir Hope, River Ryan, and Brady Smith. Social media absolutely erupted with criticism after the deal went down, and honestly, you can see why. For a marquee player of Skubal’s caliber, that return felt *low*. The Tigers were in a tough spot, though, with Skubal’s contract only running through the end of the 2026 season. They couldn’t agree on an extension, and instead of risking him walking for nothing as a free agent this offseason, they pulled the trigger. Now, he’s heading for free agency himself, unless the Dodgers drop a blockbuster extension on him before then. It’s high stakes all around.
Skubal’s Dodger Blue Journey So Far
Heading into that trade, Skubal was a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner, a legitimate ace. He was rocking a 7-5 record with a 2.79 ERA and had punched out 116 batters in 96 2/3 innings with the Tigers. Since joining the Dodgers, though, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag. In his four appearances so far, he’s got a 1-2 record and a 3.38 ERA, giving up nine earned runs in 24 innings. Get this: those nine earned runs in August with the Dodgers are more than he allowed in the *entire month of July* with the Tigers. The Cy Young form hasn’t quite locked in *yet* for him in Dodger blue. But don’t count him out! His strikeout numbers are definitely coming back to life. After snagging six Ks in each of his first two starts, he put up seven against the Brewers and absolutely dominated the Pirates with an 11-strikeout performance. The K-machine is whirring again, which is a great sign.
Friday night’s series opener against the Tigers is going to be absolutely loaded with emotion. You just know Skubal wants to show love to the Detroit fans who cheered him on for so long. But deep down, he’s gotta be itching to prove a point, to show his old club exactly what they let slip away. Plus, the whole three-game series could even see the return of Shohei Ohtani to the mound. So much drama packed into one weekend!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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