MIAMI — Tigers starter Tarik Skubal left the game with tightness in his left side after facing two batters in the bottom of the fourth inning against Miami. He’s underwent further evaluations after being removed.
After getting Eric Wagaman to fly out for the inning’s first out, Skubal was grabbing at his left side under his arm, then he motioned to the Tigers’ dugout. He spoke with trainers briefly before exiting the game.
Skubal was replaced by right-hander Rafael Montero. Skubal has been a front-runner to repeat as the AL Cy Young Award winner, sitting at third in the Majors in ERA (2.26) and second in strikeouts (224).
Skubal had his 14-inning scoreless streak snapped in the first inning of Friday’s game, when Agustín Ramírez hit a line-drive homer to left. Heriberto Hernández bested him again via the long ball with a solo HR in the second. The Marlins added another run in the inning, taking a 3-0 lead. Overall he allowed four runs on four hits while striking out two and walking none in 3 1/3 innings.
Skubal last missed time due to injury in 2023. He underwent flexor tendon surgery in 2022, and missed the remainder of the campaign. He exited Friday’s game with 45 pitches, marking his shortest outing since September 2021.
