As Tarik Skubal returns, Tigers cycling back into development mode

DETROIT ― The Dodgers made it official a few hours before game time Wednesday, Aug. 26. Tarik Skubal, who just a few weeks ago was still the Tigers’ ace, would be starting the opener of a three-game series Friday night.

It would be Skubal’s first return to Comerica Park in Dodger blue.

The task at hand was to get into the clubhouse and get reaction from some of his former teammates. But look around. Jake Rogers, who caught every one of Skubal’s starts in his first Cy Young run in 2024, is gone. Casey Mize, who came up through the minors with him and was his closest friend on the team, is gone.