The Detroit Tigers will be without their ace for the next two months, as two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is scheduled to undergo left elbow surgery on Wednesday to remove bone chips causing irritation in his elbow joint.

According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the initial recovery timeline is set at approximately two months, which would put Skubal back on the mound just ahead of the MLB trade deadline—assuming no setbacks during rehabilitation. Before the procedure, Skubal had been throwing as hard as 98 mph, underscoring the caliber of pitcher the Tigers will temporarily lose.

Skubal was in the midst of another stellar campaign. Through seven starts, he posted a sparkling 2.70 ERA with 45 strikeouts against just six walks, surrendering only two home runs across 43.1 innings pitched. His dominance was on full display during a seven-inning gem against the Atlanta Braves last Wednesday, when he struck out the side in the seventh inning despite feeling discomfort in his left arm after a hard-thrown pitch.

The discomfort prompted Skubal to call catcher Dillon Dingler to the mound, with manager AJ Hinch and medical staff quickly following to check on their prized southpaw. Despite the pain, Skubal finished the inning strong. He later revealed the issue had been lingering for some time, noting during a throwing session that scans finally identified "loose bodies" inside his elbow joint as the culprit.

"This is something that I've been dealing with all season," Skubal said. "It's good to get an answer, honestly."

The decision to undergo arthroscopic elbow surgery to remove the bone chips was made to address the irritation and pain once and for all. For Tigers fans and fantasy owners alike, the two-month timeline offers a glimmer of hope that their ace could return just in time to make an impact before the trade deadline—a pivotal moment for both the team's playoff aspirations and Skubal's future.