With light second-half MLB schedule, Tigers out to ace Tarik Skubal decision

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With light second-half MLB schedule, Tigers out to ace Tarik Skubal decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For weeks, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal dominated MLB pre-trade deadline speculation.

Interest in the back-to-back Cy Young recipient likely will continue to grow. Except now, the narrative has changed.

On June 1, coming off a 6-22 May, the injury-riddled Tigers ranked as the majors' worst squad. Exiting the All-Star break Friday, they captured 22 of their previous 36 games, matching the best AL record during that span.

In a weak division and with only two AL clubs 10 games out of the wild card chase, the Tigers have about two weeks to play themselves into a prime playoff position or continue to be the top topic on trade deliberations.

Opening the second half with a series against the host Los Angeles Angels on Friday, the Tigers (44-52), who possess the second-easiest second-half schedule, face five of the big league's most inconsistent clubs leading up to the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

Following the three games at Angel Stadium, the Tigers remain on the road, prepping to meet the Chicago Cubs on Monday for three games. The Tigers own a 17-29 road record.

The Tigers return to Comerica Park on July 23 for a four-game series against the AL Central-rival Kansas City Royals, followed immediately by a three-game set with the visiting Baltimore Orioles. The Tigers are 27-23 at home.

With three games remaining before the trade deadline at that point, the Tigers will travel to face the Athletics. The Tigers are off Aug. 3.

Tigers need quick second-half start to keep band together​

If Skubal (5-5, 3,09 ERA) remains healthy and returns to his Cy Young form, the Tigers could be positioned to make a run at the division pennant or, at least, a Wild Card seed. The 2018 ninth-round draft pick underwent left-elbow surgery on May 6 and returned June 13. In 32.1 innings since being activated, Skubal surrendered 13 earned runs on 26 hits, going 2-3.

USA Today reported Skubal "badly" wants to remain with the Tigers for the rest of the season.

If the Tigers open the second half with an 11-3 or 10-4 mark, the team brass's decision to deal the pending free agent likely would become moot.

But with 25 clubs within eight games of a wild card opportunity, entering Friday, bidding for Skubal could continue to increase, despite the Tigers being 9-11 during his previous 20 starts.

The AL East-leading Tampa Bay Raysreportedly remain focused on adding the left-hander.

The organization with the top assets, however, could be the Los Angeles Dodgers. The back-to-back World Series champions possess one of the league's strongest farm systems.

The Tigers have about two-plus weeks to determine Skubal's trade-deadline destination.

More MLB news:​

• Mets fire sale pending
• Is Orioles' cornerstone Adley Rutschman on MLB trade block?
• Angels' Mike Trout comes home, returns to MLB All-Star Game
• Mariners' Logan Gilbert suffering bittersweet season
• Dumbfounded: Spencer Torkelson's inconsistent production compounding Tigers' problems

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