Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal scheduled to throw first bullpen in return from surgery

MILWAUKEE — Tarik Skubal is advancing in his throwing progression.

Before returning to action with the Detroit Tigers, the 26-year-old left-hander will be required to pitch bullpens, live batting practices and rehabilitation games in the minor leagues. He is scheduled to take the next step in his return to the Tigers with his first bullpen session this week.

Skubal, who underwent left flexor tendon surgery in August 2022, started the 2023 season on the 60-day injured list, so the Tigers can't activate him until the end of May, which seems like a potential target for his first rehab start.

The Tigers have not revealed a timetable for his return to games, either in the minor leagues or major leagues.

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Skubal posted a 3.52 ERA with 32 walks and 117 strikeouts across 117⅔ innings in 21 starts last season. He fired 17 scoreless innings in his final three starts — July 21, July 27 and Aug. 1 — before suffering a season-ending injury. He had a 2.33 ERA in his first 11 starts.

This season, Skubal has been rehabbing in Detroit — rather than at TigerTown in Lakeland, Florida — under the care of physical therapist Duncan Evans.

"I think there is definitely some sort of isolation where you feel like you're not part of the team, when really, you are part of the team," Skubal said April 14, comparing rehabbing in Lakeland to rehabbing in Detroit. "That way, when you transition back and you're healthy, it's flawless and you're with the guys. It's not that weird, 'Hey, I haven't seen you in two months.' It'll be good."

He has a 4.15 ERA with 318 strikeouts across 299 innings in his MLB career, which spans parts of three seasons.

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The first step for Matt Manning

Right-hander Matt Manning remains sidelined with a right foot fracture.

The 25-year-old, also rehabbing in Detroit, will begin a throwing progression Tuesday. He received multiple opinions from foot specialists about the fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot and decided not to get surgery.

The Tigers have not revealed a timetable for his return to games, either in the minors or majors, but with a potential six-week recovery, he could return to the mound at the end of May.

He landed on the 15-day injured list April 12 after taking a comebacker off his foot on the final pitch of his April 11 start against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Manning posted a 4.63 ERA with three walks and seven strikeouts in 11⅔ innings across two starts this season.

Other injury updates

⋅ Right-hander Beau Brieske (right ulnar nerve entrapment) completed a live batting practice Tuesday in Lakeland. He is scheduled to throw another live batting practice later this week.

⋅ Right-handed reliever Freddy Pacheco (right elbow sprain) is playing catch six times per week. The 25-year-old, who throws a 96.5 mph fastball and swing-and-miss slider, should contribute out of the Tigers' bullpen this season, barring any setbacks in his rehabilitation.

⋅ Right-handed reliever Trey Wingenter (right biceps tendinitis) will be re-assessed for throwing at the end of the week. The Tigers placed him on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to April 19, following six appearances this season. (The Tigers previously reported his injury as right shoulder tendinitis.)

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Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tarik Skubal to throw bullpen session for Detroit Tigers this week