Tarik Skubal walked back into Comerica Park looking right at home and a little out of place all at once.
The Dodgers left-hander sat in the first-base dugout at the ballpark where he spent his first seven MLB seasons, but the view from that side took some getting used to. He said, "I've never been on this side of the clubhouse.
So when I first got here, I'm like, 'which way is the field?'" He added, "It's much farther down there.
There's a lot more steps going on, but I guess it's good for your health."
The uniform told the bigger story. Skubal still had the headband and sleeveless hoodie, but both were now Dodger blue instead of Olde English D. Less than a month after Detroit sent him to Los Angeles at the deadline for three prospects, he was back at Comerica Park and dealing with the awkwardness that comes with visiting your old team.
On the field, though, the change of scenery didn’t seem to bother him much. Skubal threw six strong innings in the Dodgers’ 2-1 win over the Tigers on Friday night, then returned Saturday, Aug. 29, to talk about the move and the new setup in Los Angeles.
He said the Dodgers have made their reputation for a reason. "[The Dodgers] have won the last two World Series for a reason.
It's not a mistake," he said. "You watch [first baseman Freddie Freeman's] ground ball routine, he does the same thing every single day.
I think those routines matter, and they translate to the field, stuff they do in the cage, the way pitchers prepare ... no little thing is overlooked, and I think that's what makes good teams really good."
Skubal also addressed the kind of reaction that comes with joining a powerhouse. He didn’t answer directly when asked about his place in the broader competitive-balance debate, but he did acknowledge how road crowds have turned into a show of their own.
"Both sides benefit from it, just having the energy in the ballpark. That's what fans do," he said.
"So I think [the fans] are entitled to whatever opinion they want to have. I appreciate it, because they make these games a ton of fun to play in, no matter where we are."
Even with the move to Los Angeles, Skubal made it clear he hasn’t lost sight of the people he left behind in Detroit. He said he sent over donuts and had other items coming in for a couple of the guys who play golf.
"Walking on the field and saying hi to these guys, just getting to see coaches, teammates, support staff and all in between. All those people go out of their way to help me on and off the field. So just kind of show some appreciation when I go say hi to them."
And then came the clubhouse confession. Skubal finally owned up to taking the espresso machine he bought and used with Tigers teammates for years.
"I'll wear it," he said, adding that the machine now lives at his house. "I did buy it, but I guess I'll wear it."
Elsewhere, the Tigers got a small piece of good news on Riley Greene. Manager A.J. Hinch said before Saturday’s game that the left fielder is moving closer to a return from his hamstring injury.
Greene will play in a rehab game for Triple-A Toledo tonight in St. Paul, Minnesota, leading off as the designated hitter.
He hasn’t played since Aug. 11, when he left a win over the Cleveland Guardians with a right hamstring injury. Detroit put him on the 10-day injured list the next day, and the Tigers have gone 3-12 without him.
Greene has been one of Detroit’s most productive hitters this season, posting an .816 OPS over 492 plate appearances. His bat and his glove would both help a club whose playoff odds have fallen to low single-digits as the regular season heads into its final month.
"The hope is that [Greene] is going to get on the field tomorrow in the outfield, and then we'll reassess," Hinch said.
Detroit heads to Minneapolis for a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins starting Monday, Aug. 31, and that trip could line up with a possible return. Hinch, though, wasn’t ready to lock anything in.
"In a perfect world that aligns well, but we can't make any assumptions yet," he said.
In Other News...
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Hinchs overall record in Detroit has not erased the questions that come with an underwhelming season, even if his resume includes past managerial success elsewhere. For now, though, the bigger Tigers question may not be whether he survives the moment, but what kind of support and direction he has around him as the organization decides what comes next. A future change is still possible, but at least for the time being, the temperature on that front appears lower than the standings might suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Former Tigers Catcher Suddenly Has Another Path Back To The Majors
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Nidos new opportunity is tied in part to a change in Bostons catching picture, since the Red Sox recently designated Jake Rogers for assignment. For a player who was just on the open market, it opens a possible path back to the majors, and it gives Nido a chance to keep himself in the conversation after leaving Detroit behind. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Injury Update Brings Hope For Greene And One New Concern
Riley Greenes recovery is moving in the right direction, and for the Tigers that is the kind of update that can change the feel of the clubs outfield picture in a hurry. Detroit said Greene is progressing well enough that a rehab assignment may not be far off, while Justin Verlander is also trending upward and nearing the point where he can begin bullpen sessions, giving the team a pair of encouraging markers from two important veterans in different phases of their returns.
Matt Vierlings situation brings a less welcome note to the same update. The Tigers said the outfielder has suffered a setback and will need more time before he can get back on track, leaving Detroit with one more lingering question to manage as it waits on the healthier news to turn into actual depth on the roster. [Read more 🡒]