Tarik Skubal returned to Detroit on Friday night and couldn't hold back the emotion. The Dodgers lefty pitched six strong innings at Comerica Park, the place where he spent his entire career before Los Angeles acquired him. Skubal was brought to tears during the outing, clearly understanding this was far more than just another start.
The Tigers faithful gave him a mixed reception. Some cheers for the pitcher who shaped the franchise's recent identity, but also boos from fans who watched him leave. That's the reality of trades. You develop talent, you build around them, and then you watch them pitch for somebody else in your own stadium.
Skubal performed the job he was brought to LA to do. Six innings, limiting damage, keeping the Dodgers in position to win. But the emotional weight of the night cut through the professional routine. He acknowledged afterward how difficult it was to compartmentalize, to treat a homecoming like a standard Friday start when everything about it felt different.
This is what happens when front offices move star players mid-career. The human side leaks through.