Tigers ace Skubal completes another simulated game, next step could be a rehab start in Triple-A.

Today, Tarik Skubal's fastball snapped into the glove with a clarity that stood out, a result of the upgraded sound system at Tropicana Field.

Nonetheless, when Skubal threw four innings of a simulated road game here today, striking out six, the sharp pop of his pitches felt fitting: his return is imminent, and it couldn't come at a better time for the struggling Detroit Tigers, who have faltered since he landed on the injured list. Of course, the team's poor record is due to more than just Skubal's absence.

"This is clearly a step in the right direction. He continues to improve and his pitches are becoming more fluid," said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. "His velocity is back to his normal level, which is elite. And his competitive instincts on the mound are getting stronger. To me, that means he's closer to pitching in a real game rather than just rehab."

The latest stop on his rehab was Tropicana Field. Could the next one be Iowa?

The Tigers' Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens, happen to be playing in Iowa this week. While both the Tigers and Skubal need to see how his arm responds after today's outing, the Mud Hens are clearly the logical choice for Skubal to make a rehab start, even if it means he'll have to travel with the team.

"Today was another smooth, positive day," Skubal said. "I feel great. I completed the full post-pitch recovery routine in the weight room and treatment room, and my body feels good. Now I just need to get a good night's sleep and see how I feel tomorrow. But like I said last time, I don't expect any surprises. Some normal soreness after pitching is inevitable, but that's actually a good sign."

According to unofficial counts, Skubal threw 64 pitches total, 45 for strikes, with 10 swings and misses. He faced a mini lineup of Jahmai Jones, Jake Rogers, and Zack Short, and allowed only two hard-hit balls: a line drive by Rogers in the first inning and a ground ball by Jones in the third that rolled quickly on the artificial turf.

"The execution was much better today," Skubal assessed. "I think I pitched at my normal level on the mound. My sinker to the glove side was very precise. Some of the breaking balls to the outer half dropped a bit low in the later innings, probably due to some fatigue. The curveball was perfect. The four-seam fastball command could be a little better, especially in full-count situations. But these are just nitpicking."

The session also included several defensive drills: batters stepped out, Hinch came in to hit fungos, and had Skubal come off the mound to field and throw to first base. Pitcher fielding practice (PFP) is usually done before or after throwing sessions, but Skubal specifically requested it be inserted during the simulated game to mimic real-game situations. That, along with his pitching performance, shows he is very close to returning to the mound.

"There's no definite plan yet," Skubal said. "But if I'm going to return to a real game soon, I need to do more PFP—get the feel for fielding, throwing to first, throwing to second. These are little details that can easily be overlooked. But if you don't execute them, they can have a huge impact in a game."

If Skubal can make a Triple-A rehab start this weekend, he could then return to the Tigers' rotation. Next weekend, the Tigers head to Cleveland for a three-game series against the Guardians. That will be Detroit's best chance to close the gap in the AL Central before the August 3 trade deadline. After that series, the two teams won't meet again until mid-August.

As of today, the Tigers remain in last place in the AL Central. As a result, rumors that Skubal might be dealt before the trade deadline have become hotter than discussions about his return, making it one of the hottest topics in baseball.

"As for all the trade rumors, we just need to start winning and we'll put all that behind us," Skubal said. "Last year, nobody talked about me being traded. But in previous years, starting around 2022, there were rumors every year. So winning quiets everything, and that's what this team needs to do now. We need to win today's game."