The Detroit Tigers are set to kick off the second half of their six-game homestand Monday night against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park, but a major curveball has already been thrown before the first pitch.
Instead of handing the ball to their ace, the Tigers will turn to left-hander Tyler Holton after Tarik Skubal was placed on the injured list and is now scheduled for surgery on his left elbow to remove loose bodies. There is no timetable for his return, leaving a significant void in Detroit's rotation.
Detroit enters the game riding high after a 7-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday, where Spencer Torkelson crushed his sixth home run of the season and the bullpen locked things down. The Tigers previously split a four-game series with Boston last month, outscoring the Red Sox 16-12 in that matchup.
Game Details:
Matchup: Detroit Tigers (18-17) vs. Boston Red Sox (13-21)
Time: 6:10 p.m. (weather-adjusted)
Location: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
TV: Detroit SportsNet
Streaming: MLB.TV
Radio: Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: LHP Tyler Holton (0-1, 5.27 ERA) vs. LHP Payton Tolle (0-1, 3.38 ERA)
The biggest storyline here is undoubtedly the absence of Skubal. He had been one of the most reliable starters in baseball early in the 2026 season, posting a 2.70 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 43.1 innings. More than just the numbers, he set the tone for the rotation every fifth day. What initially seemed like a minor scare has turned into a significant blow for Detroit.
Holton steps into a challenging role, likely as an opener or in a bulk relief capacity. He has mostly worked in short relief this season, averaging about an inning per outing, but the Tigers will now need more coverage as they reshuffle without their most dependable arm.
On the other side, Tolle makes his third start of the season. The 23-year-old lefty last faced Detroit late in 2025, throwing just one inning in relief, so the Tigers' hitters will be seeing a relatively fresh arm.
This changes the entire tone of the game—and the series. Without Skubal, Detroit is forced to lean on its depth and piece together innings. That puts added pressure on the bullpen and makes early offensive production even more critical. What once looked like a matchup the Tigers clearly controlled now feels like a battle of survival.