Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Detroit Tigers that brought aboard two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
Now, just weeks later, the Dodgers rolled into Motor City, and guess who got the start?
… Yes, Tarik Skubal.
Outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handed pitchers Brady Smith and River Ryan went the other way in the deal.
Skubal’s return to Detroit came at an interesting time as the NL West leaders came into the evening fresh off of three-straight losses to the Atlanta Braves.
So, despite all of the emotions, Skubal had some important work to do on the hill.
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Those emotions briefly got the best of him when the Tigers played a tribute video on the big screen. The right-hander got a little misty-eyed as fans gave him a standing ovation.
Detroit’s Drew Anderson went through the first half-inning with a pair of strikeouts early, and with that it was time for Skubal to take the mound at Comerica Park in a Dodgers uniform.
A mix of boos and cheers as he walked out onto the field.
However, before he threw his first pitch, there was a light-hearted moment when Skubal’s PitchCom wasn’t working right.
The Tigers’ second baseman, Gleyber Torres, was the first former teammate Skubal had to face, and it didn’t go particularly well as he sent a pitch deep to center field over Dodger Alek Thomas’ head for a double.
However, after that, he notched a pair of strikeouts and got out of the inning without allowing a run.
