The afternoon of Aug. 28 will mark Tarik Skubal’s return to Comerica Park, but this time the star left-hander will be wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform and facing his former organization, the Detroit Tigers. The two-time Cy Young Award winner enters the matchup with a winning record at Comerica Park, having gone 34-17 at the ballpark over the course of his Major League career.

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Tarik Skubal returns home in an emotional reunion

Skubal’s return to Comerica Park promises to be one of the most emotional moments of the season for the Tigers and their fans. Detroit traded its ace to the Dodgers on Aug. 1 in exchange for three prospects, sending one of the most important pieces of its rotation to Los Angeles as the defending champions pursue an unprecedented third consecutive World Series title.

For Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, the trade still brings mixed emotions. In an interview with USA TODAY, Hinch admitted that he wished the reunion had come under different circumstances.

“I wish the trade had been next year. I really didn’t want to go through these emotions again. It leaves you with a strange feeling in your stomach.”

Skubal will also make history with his return to Detroit. He is set to become the third pitcher in MLB history to win a Cy Young Award with the team that drafted him and then face that organization the following season.

Hinch expects the atmosphere at Comerica Park to be especially emotional, with a large crowd anticipated to welcome back the pitcher who spent seven seasons becoming the face of the Tigers’ rotation and one of the premier left-handers in the game.

“I think it will be really emotional for him and, at the same time, a little strange. I think he’ll get a standing ovation for what he did for this city, this fan base and this organization. He deserves a tremendous amount of respect,” Hinch said.

Skubal has also acknowledged the significance of returning to the city where he developed into one of baseball’s elite pitchers. Still, once he takes the mound, his focus will shift back to the game.

“I’m sure it will be emotional… The whole process was emotional, and I mean that sincerely. I’m really close with all those guys; that clubhouse, that environment, we were always together. But at the end of the day, I’m going there to play baseball, compete and do what I do,” Skubal said.

Skubal has dominated at Comerica Park

According to Baseball-Reference, Skubal has been particularly effective at Comerica Park throughout his career. In 75 starts in Detroit, he has posted a 2.67 ERA across 445 2/3 innings, striking out 519 batters while issuing 99 walks.

His first four starts with the Dodgers, however, have produced mixed results. Since joining Los Angeles, Skubal is 1-2 with 10 runs allowed, nine of them earned.

It has not been the ideal start to his tenure in Los Angeles, but his talent and track record remain unquestioned. And with Skubal returning to the mound at Comerica Park for the first time as a visiting player, the matchup promises to carry significance well beyond the box score.

The emotions surrounding his return, combined with the history between Skubal and the Tigers, should make this one of the most compelling games of the day.