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Skubal

Hinch also noted that Skubal is now on a five-day progression, simulating where he would be when he’s back on his normal schedule. It sounds like he’s going to require at least one minor league rehab start before returning to the Tigers’ rotation, but it now looks increasingly likely that he’ll be back in early June.

Hinch basically dismissed any internet speculation that Skubal was going to jump back into Detroit’s rotation next week without a rehab assignment after undergoing an innovative NanoScope procedure earlier this month to remove loose bodies from his elbow. The 29-year-old fantasy ace has already completed a bullpen session and could be ready to make a minor league rehab start by the end of May or early June. It’s a bit unclear how many tune-up outings he’ll require, but it’ll be at least one. It doesn’t sound like his return is imminent, but he’s definitely going to make it back to Detroit faster than anticipated at the time of the surgery.

It almost defies logic that Skubal is back throwing again less than two weeks after undergoing an innovative NanoScope procedure to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow. The 29-year-old southpaw will need a couple weeks to ramp up his throwing program again, but it doesn’t seem unrealistic that he could make it back to Detroit’s rotation at some point in June. Unreal.

It’s astounding that Skubal has already resumed a throwing program literally one week removed from undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow. According to MLB.com’s Jason Beck, Skubal underwent an innovative NanoScope procedure, which is less invasive and uses a smaller incision than a typical arthroscopic surgery, which the Tigers believe will lead to a significantly shorter absence than typical procedures of this nature. There’s optimism Skubal will be ready to return in June, but that won’t become clearer until he ramps up his throwing program in the coming weeks.

Heyman, who presumably received word from Skubal’s agent, Scott Boras, says the surgery “was such a success [that Skubal] could start working out within days.” Skubal was not placed on the 60-day IL, so a June return might be possible.

The widely-held expectation is that Skubal is facing a roughly three-month absence, which would keep him on the shelf until the All-Star break in mid-July. However, the Tigers are expected to provide a definitive timetable following the procedure. The 29-year-old back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner had been pitching with loose bodies in his elbow all season, but the issue finally became unmanageable last week, which led to the decision to have surgery. There should be an official return timeline at some point later this week.

Skubal is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow and is expected to miss at least 2-3 months, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters there won’t be an official timetable until after the procedure. The 29-year-old two-time AL Cy Young Award winner told reporters he’s been dealing with the issue all season, but it wasn’t a problem until it flared up over the weekend, which led to him being scratched from Monday’s start against the Red Sox. Fantasy managers should anticipate being without Skubal until at least after the All-Star break in July.

So much for him being scratched from his start for precautionary reasons. As of now, there is no set timeline for Skubal’s absence, but Edwin Diaz is being sidelined for three months after undergoing the same surgery. That means we could expect Skubal back in August as a best-case scenario. That’s a brutal blow for the Tigers and fantasy managers, and, potentially, Skubal’s free agent market.

Heyman didn’t give a reason for Skubal being scratched but said the “hope and belief is that he will be OK.” That seems to indicate some sort of injury, and we did see Skubal step off the mound and grab his throwing arm in the seventh inning of his last start. However, this game was also moved up due to inclement weather, so maybe the Tigers didn’t want their ace to be on the mound in poor weather conditions coming off an injury scare. We’ll have to wait for more news.

Although he gave everyone a late scare, it’s another incredible start from the back-to-back defending Cy Young award winner. Ozzie Albies hit a two-run home run as the game’s third batter. Then, Skubal faced one batter over the minimum for the rest of his outing. Oddly, he leaned on his slider to steal strikes early in the count before mixing his fastballs and changeup to finish them off. Skubal did have something go wrong just before he finished the seventh, leading to a visit from the trainer, but he said after the game that he felt fine. He’s lined up for a beautiful two-start week coming up against the Red Sox and Royals.