Tarik Skubal wipes away tears in return to Detroit, then throws 6 strong innings for Dodgers

The biggest deal of the 2026 MLB trade deadline came full circle Friday, with Los Angeles Dodgers ace Tarik Skubal returning to his previous home of Comerica Park.

The Detroit Tigers welcomed the two-time Cy Young Award winner with a tribute video as he emerged from the dugout. The display left him wiping away tears as he entered the visiting dugout.

The Tigers dealt Skubal to the Dodgers on Aug. 2 , in exchange for prospects Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith. The move created a potential super-rotation for the Dodgers, while the Tigers all but admitted they either weren't contending this season or didn't expect to sign Skubal when he hits free agency later this year.

After wiping away tears, Skubal took the mound and did what he usually did there before the trade. It was a strong start in a vacuum: 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 0 walks and 7 strikeouts in a 2-1 Dodgers win.

The start began with a leadoff double from Gleyber Torres, but Skubal recovered with two straight strikeouts then a flyout from Dillon Dingler. He retired 12 straight batters after that double, but allowed his lone run after a leadoff double from Eduardo Valencia and RBI triple from Max Clark.

Skubal exited with the game tied 1-1 and at only 83 pitches, replaced by reliever Evan Phillips. It was a conspicuously quick hook — he had thrown more pitches in every one of his other Dodgers starts — but the team might have been hesitant to push him too much on what was already an emotional day.

The decision did not come back to bite them. The Dodgers bullpen proceeded to allow only one hit across three shutout innings, while Freddie Freeman brought in the winning run with a single in the eighth inning.

The Dodgers are now 3-2 in Skubal's starts.