Tarik Skubal will start Friday for the Los Angeles Dodgers at Comerica Park against the Detroit Tigers, his first appearance there since being traded 27 days ago. Hours before the 6:40 p.m. ET first pitch, Shohei Ohtani will throw a bullpen session; if successful, he could start Sunday's finale, likely pitching only the first inning with Tyler Glasnow as the bulk pitcher. Ohtani, 32, has not pitched since July 3 and is being used as an extra pitcher to build up as a starter without a rehab assignment.

If he starts Sunday, he would have five starts left in the regular season to prepare for a traditional workload by October. With Skubal, Ohtani, Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers could have five front-line starters for the playoffs, potentially moving Glasnow to the bullpen. Roberts emphasized that Ohtani's availability depends on his left knee comfort, stating no one knows how he'll respond until after the Friday bullpen.

Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner developed by the Tigers, was emotional after his August 1 trade but has pitched effectively for the Dodgers with a 3.38 ERA in 24 innings. Roberts believes Skubal has moved on and expects a warm reception in Detroit, hoping festivities follow a Friday win to let him enjoy the moment.