Latest Cy Young Updates On Red Sox’s Garrett Crochet, Tigers’ Tarik Skubal

We’re down to the final two weeks of the American League Cy Young race between a pair of aces: Boston Red Sox’s Garrett Crochet and Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal. Here’s the latest information on both left-handers as the clubs come down the stretch.

The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey reports Crochet will return to the mound Friday when the Red Sox open a three-game series against the Rays in Tampa Bay.

Crochet tied a season-high with 12 strikeouts in his last start, a 6-4 win over the New York Yankees to prevent a three-game sweep by the guys in pinstripes.

ESPN reports Skubal will make his next start Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians. The reigning Cy Young winner left his last start after just 3.1 innings upon feeling tightness on his left side.

But Skubal threw a bullpen Monday and all systems are go for his return.

“Everything felt good,” Skubal Tuesday, according to the Detroit Free Press’ Evan Petzold. “It’s one of those weird things. I don’t really know how to explain it. Bullpen went well. Scans came back good. It’s on to the next one.”

“The sight of Tarik Skubal throwing off the mound was really awesome,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday on MLB Network Radio, per the Detroit Free Press. “He threw his normal bullpen. We’re going day by day. I’ll check in with him today. We’ll continue to inch towards his next start. Right now, that’s penciled in for Thursday.”

According to Petzold, Skubal threw with “maximum effort” in his bullpen session and “probably worked a little bit harder” but “didn’t experience any discomfort.”

A strong start by Skubal would go a long way, with he and Crochet each having dominating seasons. Here is a look at their AL rankings:

• Strikeouts: Crochet, 1st (240); Skubal 2nd (224)
• Wins: Crochet, t-2nd (16); Skubal, t-6th (13)
• ERA: Skubal, 1st (2.26); Crochet, 3rd (2.63)
• Innings: Crochet, 1st (191.1); Skubal, 2md (183.1)
• K/9: Crochet, 1st (11.3); Skubal, 2nd (11.0)
• WAR: Skubal, 1st (6.2); Crochet, 3rd (5.7)
• WHIP: Skubal, 1st (0.86); Crochet. 7th (1.05)

Crochet is trying to become the first Red Sox pitcher to win the Cy Young Award since Rick Porcello in 2016.

It could come down to his final start of the season, which just might be against Skubal and the Tigers, who close the regular season with a three-game series at Fenway Park.