DETROIT — The standing ovations came before Tarik Skubal had even thrown a pitch.
In his highly anticipated and highly emotional return to Comerica Park on Friday, Skubal was celebrated by a scoreboard video and serenaded by the crowd near the end of warmups before his first game back at his old home ballpark.
Then, when he climbed atop the mound for the bottom of the first inning, he was largely cheered by his former fan base again — receiving only a smattering of boos while trying to get his PitchCom device to work.
Skubal’s mostly positive reception wasn’t a surprise, not after a seven-year career in Detroit in which he went from unheralded ninth-round draft pick to top minor-league prospect to two-time Cy Young Award winner and face of the franchise.
But there had been raw feelings on his way out the door last month, when the Tigers traded him to the Dodgers in a deadline blockbuster after it became clear he was unlikely to re-sign as a free agent this winter.
By Friday, only four weeks had passed since then.
However, as Skubal walked across the outfield and back toward the visiting dugout a few minutes before first pitch, the scoreboard began playing a montage of his best Tigers highlights, while an early-arriving crowd rose to its feet.
Skubal didn’t offer much of a reaction, staying locked in for only his fifth start with the Dodgers since his pre-deadline day deal.
Still, as he scanned the scene, there was a clear look of gratitude on his face.
“I’ve hopefully made myself clear,” he said earlier this month, “that I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Detroit.”
The Dodgers had been anticipating heightened emotions for Skubal’s return.
On Thursday night, after the Dodgers were swept in Atlanta by the Braves, manager Dave Roberts said he expected the club “to come out and follow Tarik’s fire” in Friday’s series opener against the Tigers.
“He will have [fire] tomorrow night,” Roberts added. “And [we need to] feed off of that.”
Roberts reiterated that message before first pitch on Friday, acknowledging “this is probably going to be the toughest [start he makes], I think as far as emotions” while also maintaining confidence in his new ace pitcher’s ability to manage them.
“I just think it’s going to be a controlled sort of intensity,” Roberts said. “There’s going to be emotions, but I do think he’s going to stay within himself. It’s a familiar mound, familiar background, all that stuff. So I think he’s going to be back to himself.”
