Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal earned the win in Thursday's 1-0 Opening Day victory over the White Sox. Skubal allowed three hits and no walks while striking out six batters in six innings of work. After a dominant 2023, expectations for the 27-year-old were sky-high, and the lefty delivered in his first outing of the 2024 season. His next turn could come next Wednesday against the Mets in New York as he looks to make good on his NFBC ADP of 50th overall.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal will start the team's Opening Day game on March 28 against the Chicago White Sox, according to manager A.J. Hinch. Skubal only made 15 starts for the Tigers last year after he got a late start to the season due to flexor-tendon surgery on his arm, but he was strong in those 15 starts, posting a 2.80 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with 102 strikeouts in only 80 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old southpaw will have some workload concerns for fantasy managers, but if he's fully healthy, the upside is obvious. He's been pumping his fastball in the high-90s this spring and has looked good, adding even more intrigue around him in fantasy drafts as a low-end fantasy ace/high-end No. 2 starter to target. The matchup against the White Sox to kick things off in 2024 will be an excellent one, too.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal threw two innings of scoreless ball in Wednesday's 5-3 Grapefruit League win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The southpaw did not allow a hit in the appearance while walking one and striking out a pair of batters. It was an encouraging start for a pitcher with some high expectations coming into 2024. His impressive, albeit somewhat short, 2023 season has pushed his draft stock way up. The former ninth-round MLB draft pick got a late start but finished 7-3 with a 2.80 ERA (2.77 SIERA, 2.28 xERA), 0.90 WHIP, and a 28.4% K-BB% in 15 starts (80 1/3 IP) last season, leading to talk of a possible Cy Young in 2024. His repertoire includes a fastball that can hit 99 mph to go along with a nasty changeup or slider. His NFBC ADP stands at 54th overall, but RotoBaller is higher on the lefty, ranking him at 44th overall. With the upside of an ace, Skubal will make a fine second pitcher on fantasy pitching staffs.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal hit 100 mph on his fastball on his last pitch during his live batting practice session in spring training on Tuesday. Skubal's velocity was on the rise last year in his first season back from flexor-tendon surgery in August of 2022, and his increased velocity early in camp just shows that he's fully healthy entering the 2024 regular season. The 27-year-old southpaw shouldn't be expected to be hitting triple digits often over the course of the season. Skubal finished 2023 by going 4-1 with a 1.25 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 52 strikeouts and six walks in his final six starts. The former ninth-round pick in 2018 should see an innings boost in 2024 if he stays healthy, making him a popular target in fantasy drafts this spring as a SP2 with upside in the weak American League Central.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal said he's been tinkering with his slider and curveball while maintaining his fastball and changeup as he prepares for the 2024 season. Skubal had a strong 2023 campaign, but he'd like to generate more whiffs with his slider. The 27-year-old was a front-line starting pitcher for Detroit last year, going 7-3 with a 2.80 ERA (2.00 FIP) and 0.89 WHIP with 14 walks and 102 strikeouts in 15 starts over 80 1/3 innings pitched. He got a late start to the year while recovering from left flexor-tendon surgery, but he was excellent when he eventually returned. Fantasy managers should expect some regression from Skubal with more innings pitched in 2024, but if he can induce more swings and misses from his slider, his overall skillset is pretty enticing for fantasy managers in a weak division.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal has avoided arbitration by way of a one-year, $2.65 million contract. Flexor tendon surgery pushed Skubal's 2023 season debut back to July 4 but he was arguably the best pitcher in baseball from there on out. The 27-year-old worked to a 2.80 ERA across 15 starts and 80 1/3 innings, the sixth-best ERA mark among qualified pitchers in that time. However, Skubal's 2.00 FIP and 3.3 fWAR from July 4 on were both easily the best figures in all of baseball. Tyler Glasnow finished second in both areas with a 2.60 FIP and 2.6 fWAR. Finally, his 28.4% K-BB% was the third-best mark in baseball after his return. As a result, his fantasy stock has risen meteorically and he should be a top draft target this spring.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal will look to stay dominant on Thursday when he gets the ball to kick off a four-game set with the Oakland A's on the road. The left-hander hurled seven innings of one-run ball while allowing just three hits with nine strikeouts and no walks his last time out against the Angels, continuing a stretch that has seen him surrender just five earned runs over his last four starts with two earned runs or fewer surrendered in five of his last six. Skubal has lowered his ERA to a healthy 3.25 mark on the season while he also sports an eye-popping 2.28 FIP, 2.99 SIERA, and a big-time 25.9% K-BB% across his 13 starts on the campaign. He certainly appears to be a budding ace and a major dynasty league asset at the age of 26.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal hurled a quality start Friday afternoon against the Cleveland Guardians. He moved to 3-2 on the season after allowing one run over six innings, striking out seven. The 26-year-old lowered his ERA to 3.76 and is starting to look like a pitcher that can help teams down the stretch. He now has a .238 batting average against and 43 strikeouts compared to seven walks.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal will look to silence the American League Central rival Cleveland Guardians in a road start Thursday night. The left-hander, who underwent flexor-tendon surgery last summer, has made just seven starts this season while working to a 4.18 ERA in that time. However, a look under the hood reveals Skubal also sports fantastic peripherals in the form of a 2.70 xERA, 2.09 FIP, 2.90 xFIP, 3.14 SIERA, and a career-best 23.1% K-BB rate across 32 1/3 innings of work. Skubal has also seen his ground-ball rate skyrocket to 54.7%, a figure that has helped him allow just one home run this season. He will have a solid opportunity to have his positive regression kick in Thursday against a Guardians offense that ranks dead-last with a .284 wOBA versus left-handed pitching this season.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal threw 5.1 innings with six strikeouts during Saturday's start versus the Tampa Bay Rays. He allowed one run (zero earned) on six hits (all singles) and one walk for his second win of the year. This was another impressive effort at Comerica Park for Skubal, who has given up four and seven runs to the Miami Marlins and Kansas City Royals respectively in two road appearances this year. Since returning on July 4 from a near yearlong layoff due to flexor tendon surgery, the 26-year-old has been spotless in the run department at home over 18.1 innings this year. Skubal lines up for another matchup on home soil Thursday vs. the Minnesota Twins, who the southpaw posted a 2.65 ERA against in 17 frames last season.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) is penciled in to return from the injured list to start on Tuesday in an excellent matchup against the Oakland Athletics. It will be his first major-league start since August of last year before he had flexor-tendon surgery on his left elbow. In five minor-league rehab starts for High-A West Michigan and Triple-A Toledo, Skubal looked to be in great form, allowing only two runs (one earned) on nine hits while walking three and striking out 20 in 14 2/3 frames. The 26-year-old southpaw only went four innings in his last start, though, so he may not be able to go too deep in his 2023 big-league debut on Tuesday. However, the matchup is too good to ignore for streaming purposes. Skubal is rostered in only 32% of Yahoo leagues and is worth a pickup in mixed formats if you need pitching help.

Nothing is official yet, but Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) should be returning to the major leagues after his minor-league rehab start on Wednesday night for Triple-A Toledo. In four innings of work, Skubal allowed two unearned runs on three hits while walking two and striking out four. He has great in five rehab starts for Toledo and High-A West Michigan with a 1.23 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, three walks and 20 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings. It's looking like the 26-year-old southpaw's first start in 2023 will be early next week against the last-place Oakland Athletics, so fantasy managers need to scoop him up now to use as a streamer. Skubal had season-ending flexor-tendon surgery last August, but he should have a spot in Detroit's starting rotation the rest of the season.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) will make his next minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday. It will be his fifth rehab start and probably his last before joining Detroit's starting rotation. The 26-year-old southpaw has posted a 1.69 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, one walk and 16 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings over his four starts for High-A West Michigan and Toledo, so he appears to be ready to return to the big leagues soon. He's currently lined up to make his 2023 debut on July 4 against the Oakland Athletics as long as Wednesday is his final rehab start. Skubal was in the midst of a breakout season in 2022 before he was shut down and ultimately had flexor-tendon surgery. He's absolutely worth a waiver-wire pickup if he's available in your fantasy league.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) is scheduled to make another minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Toledo next week. Skubal made his last rehab start on Wednesday for Toledo and allowed two runs on two hits while walking one and striking out four in 2 2/3 frames (52 pitches). The 26-year-old southpaw has a combined 1.69 ERA and 0.66 WHIP with one walk and 16 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings over four rehab starts for Toledo and High-A West Michigan, so he's probably only going to need one more rehab start next week before he's reinstated from the injured list to make his 2023 debut for Detroit. Fantasy managers in deep-mixed leagues should absolutely look to pick Skubal up from the waiver wire if he's available in your league. He's currently rostered in only 27% of Yahoo leagues.

Detroit Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal (elbow) will be ready for his next rehab start on Wednesday with Triple-A Toledo, according to MLB.com. The former top prospect has already made three rehab appearances and has yet to give up a run over eight innings of work. If all continues to go well, Skubal has a chance to join the Tigers rotation near the end of June. He hasn't pitched in big league action since August 1 of last year after suffering an elbow injury that required surgery. Before hitting the injured list, Skubal posted a 3.52 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 24.5% strikeout rate, and a 7-8 record across 21 starts in 2022. Hopefully, he can return in the same form to provide fantasy managers with solid numbers in all categories.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) looked sharp in his latest minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, tossing three scoreless innings on one hit while walking none and striking out five. This was his first rehab start with Toledo after allowing an unearned run on three hits while walking none and fanning seven in two starts (five innings) for High-A West Michigan. The 26-year-old southpaw has yet to pitch in 2023 for the Tigers, so fantasy managers should expect him to make at least one or two more rehab starts at Toledo before he rejoins the team's starting rotation. Skubal will have a rotation spot waiting for him and will be useful in mixed leagues, so consider stashing him now. In three big-league seasons, he's gone 16-24 with a 4.15 ERA (4.32 FIP), 1.21 WHIP and 25.5% strikeout rate in 299 innings.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) will pitch in another rehab game with Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. The 26-year-old has been out since the beginning of August last season but was producing solid numbers before a flexor-tendon injury ended his campaign. Over 117.2 innings, Skubal posted a 3.52 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 24.5% strikeout rate with seven wins through 21 starts. It will be the third rehab start of his recovery process, and fantasy managers can expect him back near the end of June. Continue to stash Skubal in most leagues in hopes he can return in good form.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) made his second minor-league rehab start for High-A West Michigan on Friday night and allowed one unearned run on two hits while walking none and striking out six in three innings pitched. Skubal has now given up only one unearned run while walking none and fanning seven in five innings in his first two rehab starts. The 26-year-old southpaw is in the midst of a long recovery from a flexor-tendon surgery, but he's getting closer to making his 2023 debut for the Tigers and fantasy managers. Barring a setback, he could be back in Detroit's starting rotation by the end of June. Fantasy managers in need of pitching help may want to consider stashing him now. He's currently rostered in only 16% of Yahoo leagues.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (elbow) is starting a rehab assignment in High-A on Saturday. The 26-year-old has required a lengthy recovery process from left flexor tendon surgery last summer, so he will need several appearances before a major league comeback. Skubal was budding into a legitimate mixed-league fantasy contributor before his setback in 2022, compiling a solid 3.52 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 117 strikeouts in 117 2/3 innings last year. The southpaw is worthy of stash consideration in deeper settings, but fantasy managers should not expect Skubal to help rosters likely until the end of June.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) threw his second live batting practice session on Tuesday, and barring a setback, his next step is to start a minor-league rehab assignment. Skubal would likely make four or five rehab starts before the Tigers consider reinstating him from the injured list to rejoin their starting rotation. The 26-year-old southpaw has looked good so far in his recovery from flexor-tendon surgery, but fantasy managers must remain patient. It might be too optimistic to expect him to be back in June, but it's a remote possibility. When he's healthy and pitching again for Detroit, he should be rostered in the majority of fantasy leagues. Skubal has pitched to a 4.15 ERA (4.32 FIP), 1.21 WHIP and 9.6 K/9 in 299 innings in 60 outings (57 starts) over his three big-league seasons to this point.