Tigers News: Tigers Outline Tarik Skubal's Role for Postseason Push

The Detroit Tigers are gearing up for a crucial stretch in their postseason race, and ace pitcher Tarik Skubal is set to play a key role. Skubal is scheduled for at least three starts in the coming weeks, beginning with a matchup against the Colorado Rockies at Comerica Park.

However, he will not pitch during the Tigers' six-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. The team has decided to manage his workload carefully, which has included longer rest periods between starts. This season, Skubal has often pitched on five or six days of rest instead of the usual four.

If he continues this pattern, Skubal could pitch again on September 18 against the Kansas City Royals and then on September 24 against the Tampa Bay Rays. This setup would allow him to potentially start on September 29 against the Chicago White Sox, depending on the Tigers' postseason situation.

"We've told him he's going to pitch on Thursday against the Rockies," manager A.J. Hinch said before Tuesday's series opener against the Rockies. "Five or six days after that, he'll pitch again, I think it's in Kansas City, and then on that last homestand."

Currently, the Tigers are three games behind in the race for the final American League wild card spot. Skubal has had an impressive season, boasting a 2.53 ERA with 208 strikeouts over 174 innings, making him a strong contender for the American League Cy Young Award.

Related: Tigers News: How Detroit Can Win the Wild-Card Race

As the season winds down, the Tigers are focused on winning games, and Skubal's performance will be critical to their success. He has not pitched on four days of rest since mid-August, and the team is monitoring his innings closely to ensure he remains effective.

"Copy and paste about just focus on what his next start is, and where he is, and what he can give us," Hinch said. "I don't think it's fair on the player to really bring all of that public or all of that saying, you're allowed this many pitches or this many innings. We're about winning games. We want to put him in a good position to help us on Thursday. The other stuff will be handled kind of start by start."

With the postseason in sight, the Tigers are looking to maximize Skubal's contributions while navigating the challenges ahead.