Detroit Tigers fans have been holding their breath since ace Tarik Skubal was placed on the injured list Monday, just hours before his scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. The diagnosis? Loose bodies in his pitching elbow—small fragments of cartilage and bone that require surgical removal. While the team isn't releasing a timetable, a leading orthopedic surgeon offers a hopeful outlook: if all goes well, the two-time Cy Young winner could be back on the mound before the end of August.

Dr. Kevin Farmer, chief of sports medicine and an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Florida's College of Medicine, calls this "the surgery you want to have if you need elbow surgery." Minimally invasive and typically lasting less than an hour, the procedure involves removing the loose fragments and doing a bit of cleanup. "Short-term, you can bounce back relatively quickly," Farmer told the Detroit News. The bigger question, he notes, is the long-term picture—this kind of wear and tear is a sign of previous strain on the joint.

Skubal, 29, is no stranger to the operating room. He's already undergone two major elbow surgeries: Tommy John surgery in college and flexor-tendon surgery in 2022. Farmer explains that it's not uncommon for pitchers with a history of elbow procedures to develop these issues, but the good news is that recovery from this specific surgery is often swift.

So, what does the road back look like? Farmer outlines a rehab timeline of six to eight weeks for physical therapy to reduce swelling and restore range of motion, followed by another six to eight weeks of throwing and strength-building before Skubal can rejoin the rotation. In a best-case scenario, that puts him on track for a return in early August. A more cautious recovery could push that timeline to late August or even early September.

But here's the real question for Tigers fans: will the team still be in playoff contention when Skubal is ready to return? After making two straight postseason appearances, Detroit is banking on their ace to lead another charge. For now, the focus is on getting Skubal healthy—and hoping the Tigers can stay in the hunt until he's back on the bump.