In a stunning turn of events that has shaken up the American League Cy Young race, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal has been removed from the betting board as the favorite after being sidelined by elbow surgery. The two-time reigning Cy Young winner, who was the +230 favorite to three-peat, now faces an uncertain recovery timeline that could keep him out for 2-3 months.

The news broke Monday when the Tigers announced that Skubal would undergo a procedure on his pitching elbow to remove "loose bodies"—bone chips or cartilage fragments caused by repeated stress. While it's not a torn ligament, which offers some relief, the recovery period essentially means Skubal will need to rebuild his arm strength much like a spring training buildup.

This setback came after an ominous moment during last Wednesday's start in Atlanta, where Skubal was seen shaking his left arm in the seventh inning. Though he was checked by trainers, he stayed in the game and struck out the side to finish his outing. It was his first IL stint since 2023, and the loose bodies had been causing pain throughout the season.

"From my understanding, you just go take it out," Skubal told reporters Monday. "The procedure itself I think is pretty simple. The length of the rehab is probably just getting your spring training buildup up again, getting your volume up. This is something that I've been dealing with all season. It's good to get an answer, honestly."

Before the injury, Skubal was in dominant form: a 3-2 record with a 2.70 ERA, 0.45 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts across seven starts. His absence is a massive blow to a Tigers team that went all-in this offseason, choosing to build around their ace rather than trade him before unrestricted free agency next winter.

The Cy Young odds have already shifted dramatically. Young Yankees starter Cam Schlittler has jumped from +500 to +230 favorite, while teammate Max Fried has moved from +650 to +250. No pitcher has ever won the AL Cy Young three straight seasons—a feat that now seems unlikely for Skubal, at least for now.

For Tigers fans and baseball bettors alike, this is a sobering reminder of how quickly a season can change. As Skubal begins his recovery, the baseball world will be watching closely to see when—and if—this generation's best left-hander can return to form.