Tigers' Tarik Skubal to undergo surgery on left elbow - ESPN

Detroit Tigers ace and two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal will have arthroscopic surgery for loose bodies in his left elbow, manager A.J. Hinch said Monday.

Hinch told reporters that Skubal will have the procedure after the left-hander felt pain in his elbow Sunday and underwent tests, which revealed the injury.

Hinch did not give a timetable for Skubal's return but said it would be an «easy process and procedure.» The procedure typically sidelines players for two to three months.

«From my understanding, you just go take it out,» Skubal told reporters Monday. «I think length of the rehab is probably just getting your spring training buildup up again, getting your volume up. But the procedure itself I think is pretty simple as far as what I've been explained.»

Skubal, who was scheduled to start against the Boston Red Sox on Monday night, said he made the decision to have the procedure «as soon as possible so that way I can be back as soon as possible.»

He is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA over seven starts this season, striking out 45 over 43 1/3 innings. The Tigers are currently tied for first place in the AL Central with an 18-17 record.

«Been dealing with some stuff, but I thought it was progressing and getting better,» Skubal told reporters Monday. «Yesterday, I had something that kind of was different than what I've been dealing with. I had some conversations with the training staff, A.J., trying to figure out what's going on and wasn't very comfortable pitching today.»

Skubal last pitched in a 4-3 defeat against the Atlanta Braves last Wednesday, giving up two runs on five hits in seven innings while striking out seven. In that game, Hinch and a trainer visited the mound after Skubal rubbed