The Detroit Tigers have been dealt a significant blow, but manager A.J. Hinch isn't waving the white flag just yet. Ace left-hander Tarik Skubal, the reigning two-time American League Cy Young winner, was scratched from his scheduled start Monday against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. The team placed him on the injured list after discovering loose bodies in his left elbow, requiring surgery.

While there's no official timetable for his return, Skubal is expected to miss multiple months before rejoining the Tigers at some point during the 2026 season. It's a tough pill to swallow for a team that entered Monday's series opener with an 18-17 record.

"It's a big test," Hinch said. "You can't deny it's a big blow, but we're not canceling the season. We're going to play the games."

Skubal had been dominant once again this season, posting a 2.70 ERA with just six walks and 45 strikeouts over 43⅓ innings across seven starts. Since 2023, the Tigers have gone 54-30 in his 84 starts, during which he owns a stellar 2.41 ERA over 511 innings.

The injury woes don't stop there. Detroit's rotation currently has three pitchers on the IL: Skubal, right-hander Casey Mize (right adductor strain), and future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander (left hip inflammation). The bullpen is missing right-hander Will Vest (right lateral forearm inflammation), while the position-player group is without center fielder Parker Meadows (left radius fracture), utility man Zach McKinstry (left hip/abdominal inflammation), and shortstop Javier Báez (right ankle sprain).

And that's not counting three other starting pitchers who went down before Opening Day: right-handers Jackson Jobe (Tommy John surgery), Reese Olson (right shoulder surgery), and Troy Melton (left elbow inflammation).

"It takes more than five starters and eight relievers and 13 position players," Skubal said just hours before landing on the IL. "Every team goes through that. That's where depth matters in this organization."

For a team already battling adversity, the Tigers' resilience will be put to the test. But as Hinch made clear, the season marches on—and so will Detroit.