(Photo credit: Evan Petzold / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal threw four innings of a simulated game on Monday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., and the ace lefty of the Detroit Tigers is trending toward a rehab start as soon as this weekend.

Unofficially, Skubal threw 45 of 64 pitches for strikes under the dome and fanned six.

'It was obviously a step in the right direction and continuing to show progress and throw with freedom,' manager A.J. Hinch said. 'Velo was normal, which means high. And his reactions are starting to get even more and more competitive. To me, that's signaling that he's getting closer to pitching competitively than he is rehabbing.'

In seven 2026 starts, Skubal is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. He is striking out more than one batter per inning (45 K's in 43 1/3 innings) and has only walked six.

But after an April 29 seven-inning effort in Atlanta, he was placed on the 15-day IL on May 4 (retroactive to May 1) with loose bodies in his left elbow. He underwent a less invasive arthroscopic procedure May 6 to remove debris and doctors confirmed no other ligament damage.

'I think it was another good day, another positive day,' Skubal said after the sim game. 'I feel great now, went through all my post-throw stuff in the weight room and the training room and I feel good. Now I just need to sleep well, wake up and see how I feel tomorrow.

'But like I said last time, don't expect anything to be different. I'm going to be general pitching sore, but that's a good thing.'

Entering Monday's game against the host Tampa Bay Rays, the Tigers were 7-22 since Skubal's last appearance on the mound and owned the worst record in the American League at 22-28.

--Field Level Media