Tarik Skubal took the mound for Class A West Michigan on Sunday, delivering five scoreless innings in his first rehabilitation appearance since elbow surgery. The two-time Cy Young Award winner struck out six batters while allowing just two hits, showing promising form with 44 of his 54 pitches finding the strike zone. His fastball touched 98 mph during the outing.

Skubal underwent a noninvasive procedure on May 6 to remove a loose body from his throwing elbow, sidelining him since his last Tigers start on April 29. When asked about a potential return timeline, Skubal deflected, saying, "That's a good question, that I'm not going to answer," leaving fans and teammates waiting for updates.

Before the injury, Skubal was dominating with a 2.70 ERA over seven starts, posting a 3-2 record while striking out 45 batters and walking just six in 43⅓ innings. His absence has left a significant void in Detroit's rotation during a crucial part of their season.

This successful rehab outing suggests Skubal could rejoin the Tigers within weeks, potentially stabilizing a pitching staff that has struggled without their ace. The team's postseason hopes largely depend on getting their Cy Young winner back to full strength.