Tarik Skubal faced his former team, the Detroit Tigers, for the first time since being traded. In the game held in Detroit on August 28, 2026, Skubal started for the Dodgers and pitched six innings, allowing four hits and one run while recording seven strikeouts and no walks. The game was tied 1-1 when he left, so he did not receive a decision.

Skubal’s Numbers Confirmed in His Return to Detroit

Before the game, Tigers fans watched a tribute video for Skubal and welcomed him with a standing ovation. The crowd’s reaction included both cheers and boos. After the game, Skubal said he became emotional during his return to Detroit.

Public-license image of Tarik Skubal
Tarik Skubal · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Jeffrey Hyde
The return to his former team was an emotional moment, but the official line was six innings, one run allowed, seven strikeouts, and no walks.

Skubal won consecutive American League Cy Young Awards in 2024 and 2025 as a member of the Tigers. The Dodgers acquired him on August 2, 2026, sending Jace Jung, River Ryan, and Brady Smith to Detroit. Skubal was scheduled to become a free agent after the 2026 season.

Official MLB video · Tarik Skubal struck out 7 Tigers batters in his return to Detroit! 😳 | MLB HighlightsWatch on YouTube

Freeman’s Eighth-Inning Single Decided the Game

In the eighth inning, Freddie Freeman’s single into center field drove in Teoscar Hernández. The run became the Dodgers’ go-ahead score, and the game ended with a 2-1 Dodgers victory. The win also snapped the team’s three-game losing streak.

Two key points stand out from this game. Skubal delivered a steady start against his former team, while the Dodgers completed the victory with Freeman’s late-game RBI single. However, it is still too early to make a final assessment of the trade’s long-term value.

Sources Checked

  • MLB.com game report: https://www.mlb.com/news/tarik-skubal-returns-to-detroit-to-face-tigers
  • Official MLB box score: https://www.mlb.com/gameday/dodgers-vs-tigers/2026/08/28/824231/final/box
  • Official Los Angeles Dodgers video description: https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/video/tarik-skubal-freddie-freeman-lift-dodgers-in-2-1-win
  • Dodgers trade announcement: https://www.mlb.com/press-release/dodgers-acquire-tarik-skubal
  • Verification time: August 29, 2026, 09:30–09:34 UTC