Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal will return to a big-league mound on Saturday when he starts against the Cleveland Guardians, manager A.J. Hinch announced Thursday, according to MLB.com's Jason Beck.
"We're adding the best pitcher in baseball back to our mix," Hinch said. "It's hard to describe what that boost will be."
Skubal hasn't pitched in the majors since April 29, after loose bodies were removed from his elbow via a NanoScope procedure that allowed him to return sooner than expected.
The back-to-back AL Cy Young winner owns a 3-2 record with a 2.70 ERA and 9.3 K/9 this season.
Skubal, a free agent at the end of the campaign, has recently been mentioned in trade rumors as the Aug. 3 deadline approaches.
The Tigers (28-40) enter Thursday in fourth place in the AL Central and sit 5.5 games back of a wild-card spot.
