Tarik Skubal fantasy stock jumps as injuries scramble Week 19 plans

Tarik Skubal fantasy managers got the good kind of headache this week: CBS Sports analyst Chris Towers says the Tigers lefty is again pitching his way into the No. 1 starter conversation.

Skubal’s return from elbow surgery began with turbulence, according to Towers. He missed six weeks, made one rehab start, then gave up six homers and nine runs across 16.1 innings in his first three starts back. Since then, the tone has changed fast.

Towers noted that Skubal struck out a season-high 12 against the Royals on Friday. Since coming off the injured list, Skubal has a 2.70 ERA and a 35.5% strikeout rate, numbers Towers said put him back at the front of his starting pitcher rankings with other elite arms showing cracks.

Is Tarik Skubal the best fantasy starter again?

In fantasy baseball, an SP1 is the starter managers can build around, the pitcher expected to anchor ERA, WHIP and strikeouts. Towers’ case for Skubal is built on the strikeout surge after his early post-surgery homer trouble.

The pitching board is messy behind him. Towers wrote that Jacob Misiorowski calmed workload worries with a dominant Sunday outing against the Rockies, striking out 12 in five innings. Misiorowski threw 66 fastballs, none below 100 mph, and got 23 of his 26 swinging strikes with that pitch while using it 80% of the time, according to Towers.

There is still a leash question. Misiorowski was removed after 83 pitches, and Towers said the Brewers letting him push toward 90-plus pitches would help protect his fantasy value. Even with that caveat, Towers has him near the very top of his starter board.

Hunter Brown also moved up after a clean rebound. Towers wrote that Brown’s command had been the problem after a shoulder injury, with 22 walks in 29.1 innings over six starts following his IL return. Against the White Sox, Brown threw seven shutout innings, struck out seven and did not walk a batter.

Which fantasy pitchers are worrying managers?

Paul Skenes landed in the “down” group despite a strange stat line. Towers pointed to Skenes’ fastball averaging 96.3 mph Saturday, the second-lowest mark of his career, but also noted he still produced 22 swinging strikes, struck out 11 and walked two. Towers said he would buy low and still ranks Skenes as a top-five starter.

Hunter Greene is another concern, according to Towers, after his fastball dropped to 97.2 mph and his ERA sat at 7.06 through four starts. Towers tied the uncertainty to Greene’s spring elbow procedure to remove loose bodies, while saying Greene’s previous two full seasons earned him patience.

Bryce Miller drew more concern. Towers wrote that Miller averaged at least 96.0 mph on his fastball in each of his first eight starts, then fell below that mark in early July and has not returned. Over that stretch, Miller has one quality start, a 4.30 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 23 innings.

Who replaces the injured bats in Week 19?

The hitter injuries were harsher. Towers reported that A’s catcher Shea Langeliers has a torn meniscus that will likely require surgery and could cost him the rest of the season. He listed Francisco Alvarez as his preferred replacement, with Endy Rodriguez also in the mix if he returns from a glute injury this week.

In the outfield, Cody Bellinger went on the injured list Saturday with a hamstring injury and was due for an MRI Monday, according to Towers. Juan Soto has a Grade 2 left calf strain, and the Mets have not given a timetable. Towers expects Soto to miss at least a month and possibly longer.

For fantasy replacements, Towers pointed to Cole Carrigg and A.J. Ewing, both rostered in about 65% of CBS Fantasy leagues. He wrote that both have some playing-time limits now, but he expects those to clear after the trade deadline.

This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.