Tigers Daily Report
May 06, 2026
Executive Summary
The Tigers face off against the Red Sox at 6:40 p.m. ET with Jack Flaherty (0-2) on the mound for Detroit and Sonny Gray (2-1) for Boston, as Detroit looks to break back into the win column after a brutal 10-3 loss yesterday and the loss of ace Tarik Skubal to elbow surgery.
Top Story
Tigers Reeling After Skubal Surgery, Quest for Pitching Depth Begins
Tarik Skubal was scratched from his scheduled start and placed on the injured list due to loose bodies in his throwing elbow, marking a devastating blow to the Tigers' rotation. Skubal will require elbow surgery and is expected to sideline the star for 2-3 months, with some indicators suggesting he may not play until after the All-Star break. In response, the Tigers recalled Ty Madden from Triple-A Toledo; Madden was the No. 32 selection in the 2021 draft and was routinely believed to be one of the team's top prospects during his early years. Madden delivered an impressive relief appearance Monday, allowing four hits while striking out seven over five scoreless innings in his first MLB appearance since 2024.
Source: MLB.com
Around the Club
Injuries — Justin Verlander's recovery from left hip inflammation is proceeding, with the veteran righty maxing out at 94 mph during a throwing session and potentially setting him up to face hitters later this week. Beau Brieske faced live hitters Friday for the second time during his throwing program and won't be eligible to return until late May following left adductor strain suffered during spring training. Zach McKinstry has rejoined the Tigers in Detroit and could be activated from the 10-day injured list prior to today's game.
Roster — The Tigers signed shortstop Paul DeJong to a minor-league contract; DeJong opted out of his Yankees deal after slashing .203/.361/.516 with six home runs in 23 Triple-A games, and with Javier Báez on the injured list and Gleyber Torres dealing with side tightness, DeJong could get a look with the big club soon.
Prospects — Kevin McGonigle, the No. 2 prospect in baseball, is one of the most well-rounded hitters to come up through the minors in recent memory and continues to contribute at the major league level. Max Clark brings his trademark electricity to Triple-A Toledo and has already proven to have a keen eye against Triple-A arms with five walks against only two strikeouts through his first five games.
Quick Hits
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Kevin McGonigle, the reigning rookie of the month, has shown no signs of stress from having to soldier the full load at shortstop.
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Jack Flaherty needs to conquer his command demons, now more than ever with Skubal, Mize and Verlander all on the injured list.
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Betting models project the Tigers to win with 64.2% probability.
Next Game
Boston Red Sox — Today, 6:40 p.m. ET, Comerica Park
Tigers Daily Report — May 06, 2026