Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is still on schedule to pitch Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles. Manager A.J. Hinch confirmed the start Tuesday, five days before the August 3 trade deadline.
Skubal's status has drawn attention because the Tigers have been mentioned in trade deadline conversations around the league. A start against Baltimore gives teams a live look at the reigning Cy Young Award winner days before the deadline closes.
Hinch did not indicate any change to the plan for his ace, keeping Skubal in the rotation as Detroit navigates the final days of a decision period that could reshape the roster.
Elsewhere in the American League, the Boston Red Sox received bad news on infielder Curtis Mead. Follow-up tests on Tuesday revealed a fractured left wrist, according to multiple reports, and the team is expected to place him on the injured list. Mead had recently joined the Red Sox organization and the injury represents an immediate setback for his time in Boston.
The two developments reflect the uncertainty teams face as the deadline closes in. Skubal's outing Wednesday will likely draw scouts and front-office personnel from around the league, given the level of interest in the Tigers' rotation heading into the final stretch of the summer.
The August 3 trade deadline is the last point at which players can be traded and remain eligible for the postseason with their new teams.
