Tigers ace Tarik Skubal shows some rust in first start since elbow procedure

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tarik Skubal wasn't seeking any sentimentality for his return from elbow surgery. Save the pats on the back and warm words for someone else.

Skubal didn't win back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards on fuzzy feelings or nostalgia. The fiery left-hander is all business, and his time away from the mound didn't soften him at all.

“I don’t want to play into that narrative of trying to be back,” Skubal said Saturday following his first start since April 29. "I need to be better, plain and simple. ‘Just happy to be there,’ that’s a loser mentality to me. I need to go out there and pitch and compete and give my team a chance to win and I didn’t do that.”

Skubal showed some rust while pitching 4 2/3 innings as the Tigers again failed to get any timely hits (they stranded 11 runners) i n a 3-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. The left-hander had a loose body removed from his elbow in an i nnovative surgical procedure on May 6 that accelerated his return.

While Skubal wasn't dominant, that hardly mattered to the Tigers. They were just happy to have No. 29 back on the mound and delivering pitches with his familiar high-leg delivery.

“He didn’t execute at the level that we’re used to,” said Detroit manager A.J. Hinch. “But man, it was nice to see him out there.”

Skubal was lifted after 80 pitches by Hinch, who noted it was a “weird start” given the Guardians' lineup changed dramatically in the early innings when Cleveland lost outfielders Angel Martinez (bruised foot) and Chase DeLauter (bruised ribs) to injuries.

Skubal allowed five hits, struck out four and made one big mistake when he elevated a two-strike pitch to Daniel Schneemann, who connected for a two-run homer in the third inning.

“If I want one pitch back, it’s the one to Schneemann,” Skubal said.

Skubal was ahead 0-2 in the count when he missed with a high fastball that Schneeman, a left-handed hitter who had never faced Detroit's ace, drove 417 feet to give the Guardians a 3-1 lead.

“It was bad. Really bad,” Skubal said. "On 0-2, I’m going up and away and I kind of miss. It’s not in enough and it’s not up enough. If I’m going to miss, it needs to be more in and more up. It’s a good swing on it, but the execution on it was pretty poor.”

Skubal's velocity was fine, as his fastball registered in the mid-90s (mph). His breaking pitches had their usual spin, and for the most part he was pleased with his outing.

“My process was really good today,” he said. "Every pitch I was bought-in on. At the end of the day, that’s all I can really control, is me trying to go out there and execute every pitch and sometimes things just don’t fall your way.

"Credit to those guys, too. They had some really good at-bats, and they were in on some pitches, and fouled off some pitches and took some really good pitches, too. You kind of give credit where credit is due. At the same time, I’ve got to be better to give our team a chance to win. I just didn’t do that today.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal tosses the ball to first base but not in time to get Cleveland Guardians' Stuart Fairchild out during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal walks from the mound during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — J.T. Realmuto hit a three-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies scored five times in the sixth inning before holding on for a 9-8 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night.

Bryson Stott put the Phillies ahead 4-3 in the sixth with his second RBI double of the game. Realmuto followed with his fourth home run this season, and Bryce Harper added a sacrifice fly later in the inning.

Edmundo Sosa homered in the second, and Realmuto had an RBI single in a two-run fourth as the Phillies opened a 3-0 lead. Sosa, Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh each had three of Philadelphia's 17 hits — one night after the Phillies were limited to one as Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski struck out 15 batters on 95 overpowering pitches in his first career shutout.

Jackson Chourio homered twice and went 4 for 5 with four RBIs for the Brewers, who have lost three of four following a four-game winning streak. Garrett Mitchell hit a two-run shot for the NL Central leaders.

Milwaukee made it 8-5 in the seventh when Chourio hit a two-run drive to center field, his second homer of the night. It was Chourio’s second multihomer game this season and the fourth of his career.

Marsh added an RBI single in the eighth before the Brewers scored three runs off Brad Keller in the bottom half. Mitchell scored on a wild pitch, Christian Yelich delivered a sacrifice fly and Chourio had an RBI single before Keller struck out Brice Turang. William Contreras, who had three hits, fouled out to end the inning.

Tim Mayza (2-1) retired Mitchell with runners at the corners to end the fifth, keeping the score tied at 3.

Jhoan Duran pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save.

Brewers starter Shane Drohan (3-2) was lifted after allowing Marsh's leadoff single in the sixth. Drohan struck out a career-high seven and walked none but was charged with four runs and eight hits.

Chad Patrick replaced Drohan and gave up hits to the first five batters he faced. Patrick allowed four runs and five hits in one inning.

Cristopher Sánchez (8-2, 1.54 ERA) starts Sunday for Philadelphia against fellow left-hander Kyle Harrison (7-1, 2.72) and the Brewers in a marquee matchup.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio hits a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Luis Rengifo slides past Philadelphia Phillies' J.T. Realmuto to score a run during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Philadelphia Phillies' J.T. Realmuto celebrates with Bryson Stott after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Philadelphia Phillies' J.T. Realmuto rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Philadelphia Phillies' J.T. Realmuto hits a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)