Skubal (3-2, 2.70) draws Cantillo (4-3, 4.57) for a 4:10 PM ET first pitch at Progressive Field, the back half of a weekend set the Tigers dropped the opener of 3-2 on Friday.
The headline is Skubal. The reigning back-to-back Cy Young winner has been out 38 days after a NanoNeedle scope to clean up his left elbow, and Saturday is his first big-league start since allowing 2 earned over 7 against Atlanta on April 29. He got one rehab tune-up (5 shutout innings, 2 hits at High-A) and Detroit is sending him straight into a divisional game they need.
Cleveland, meanwhile, walks in cold. Stephen Vogt's club went 1-4 over the last 5, including a home sweep by the Yankees, and Cantillo is the guy they're hoping can stop the bleed. Easier said than done — over his last 3 starts he's been pummeled for 15 earned in 11 innings, and his ERA jumped from 2.98 to 4.57 in roughly two weeks. His last time out he didn't make it out of the 5th against Texas in a 10-0 loss.
The Tigers got Skubal back at exactly the right time. They're 29-41 and the rotation has been duct-taped together — Casey Mize is also coming off the IL to start Sunday, while Verlander, Jobe, Reese Olson and Brant Hurter are still parked. The lineup is missing Javier Baez (60-day, ankle) and Parker Meadows (60-day, wrist), which makes every Skubal start matter that much more.
- Day-To-DayJack Flaherty SP — Flaherty allowed three runs on six hits across five innings and did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Mariners. He walked one and struck out seven.
- Day-To-DayDugan Darnell RP — The Tigers announced Sunday that Darnell (hip) has been playing catch five times a week and is also taking part in a running progression, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
- Day-To-DayJosue Briceno C — Briceno said Friday that he expects to be sidelined a few months after having surgery Wednesday to repair a tendon in his right wrist, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
- 15-Day-ILCasey Mize SP — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch confirmed Friday that Mize (adductor) will rejoin the rotation with a start Sunday in Cleveland, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILBurch Smith RP — Smith (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILTarik Skubal SP — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch confirmed Thursday that Skubal (elbow) will rejoin the rotation Saturday in Cleveland, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILJavier Baez SS — The Tigers transferred Baez (ankle) to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
- 60-Day-ILJustin Verlander SP — Verlander (hip) struck out three and allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks across 5.2 innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Toledo.
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez RP — Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
- 15-Day-ILErik Sabrowski RP — Manager Stephen Vogt said Sabrowski (elbow) threw a bullpen session Monday that went well, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILGabriel Arias SS — no
One number worth flagging before lineups drop: the total opened with the Under at +110 and has been hammered down to -124. That's a notable move with Skubal on the bump and a slumping Cantillo opposite him — the market is pricing in a quiet afternoon, not a track meet.