With two weeks until the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline, the Detroit Tigers face a critical stretch: win and keep All-Star Tarik Skubal or fade and likely trade him. Manager A.J. Hinch said the team has been in "Game 7" mode since May, blocking out daily trade speculation.

Skubal has a 2.97 ERA in seven starts since returning from a six-week elbow injury. Detroit entered Monday 4½ games back in the AL wild-card race with six teams ahead, but FanGraphs gives them a 16% division title chance—higher than wild-card odds—having played the fewest division games.

The Tigers activated veteran Gleyber Torres Monday, and Javier Báez begins a rehab assignment Tuesday. Hinch said health and winning now are the only ways to avoid a multi-team pursuit for Skubal that would net a top-five prospect.