DETROIT – Tarik Skubal returned to Comerica Park on Friday, a month after being traded to the Dodgers, and received a warm welcome from fans and former teammates. Three hours before the game, Skubal emerged from the visiting clubhouse and smiled as he took in the familiar surroundings. He greeted his former teammates, including Jackson Jobe, with a playful gesture.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted the emotional significance of the game for Skubal, who spent eight years with the Tigers. In the Dodgers' 2-1 victory, Skubal pitched six innings, allowing one run and striking out seven batters. He received a tribute video from the scoreboard, which visibly affected him.
Skubal's performance included a stretch where he retired 12 consecutive batters and struck out the side in the third inning. However, he was removed from the game after 83 pitches, following an RBI triple from Max Clark in the fifth inning. Despite the emotional weight of the day, Skubal's performance helped the Dodgers recover from a recent sweep against the Braves. The Dodgers' offense scored two runs, including an RBI single from Miguel Rojas and another from Freddie Freeman, securing the win.