Tarik Skubal Responds to Buzz Around Injury Rehab Timeline Amid Tigers' Struggles

Despite a positive throwing session on Thursday, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is pumping the brakes on him making an imminent return to the mound.

Speaking to reporters after his bullpen work, Skubal explained he is in a "day to day" mode right now with how his elbow feels and that he wants "to be back as fast as I can" but "it's bad for everyone involved" if he tries to rush a return and isn't pitching up to his full capabilities.

Skubal's throwing session on Thursday came just over two weeks after he had NanoScope surgery on May 6 to remove a loose body in his pitching elbow.

Much has been made of the specific type of procedure Skubal had that is designed to reduce the typical two-to-three month recovery period for loose body surgery.

Per MLB.com's Jason Beck, the NanoScope surgery uses a smaller instrument that is less invasive, doesn't impact as much tissue and prevents as much swelling.

Skubal told reporters on Monday that he was symptom-free and threw all of his pitches during a bullpen session, prompting speculation that a return could come quickly, though he acknowledged there are still benchmarks he has to hit.

"There's a lot of things that (have to) happen, whether it be a rehab assignment or something. Getting through those starts obviously matters, and that will determine (when) I'm back here too. I'd love to sit here and give you an answer for when I'm going to be back. I want that same answer. But hopefully, sooner rather than later."

Skubal also figures to be extremely careful because of how much he has at stake with free agency looming in the offseason. It was already speculated after last season he could become the first pitcher to sign a contract worth at least $400 million.

After word of Skubal's surgery came out, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand noted multiple league executives said his free-agent value would depend on how he played upon returning.

Another potential looming factor for the Tigers specifically is the trade deadline. They were hovering around .500 when he was healthy, but they are 5-14 in 19 games entering Thursday since Skubal's last appearance on April 29.

Detroit entered play on Thursday trailing the Cleveland Guardians by 7.5 games for first place in the AL Central. The club is also 4.5 games out of a wild card spot.

If the Tigers fall further out of contention over the next two months but Skubal returns and pitches well, he becomes the most intriguing potential target going into the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

Even while fighting through elbow issues early in the season, Skubal was still pitching well if not quite at the level that earned him back-to-back AL Cy Young awards. He has a 2.70 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 43.1 innings over seven starts.