Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) during the first inning of a game April 29 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Skubal starts

playing catch

DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal has started playing catch and soft tossing, just over a week after elbow surgery.

The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner had a procedure on May 6 to remove a loose body in his pitching elbow, which was described as minimally invasive. When the Tigers placed the 29-year-old left-hander on the 15-day injured list in a move effective May 4, the team projected he would miss two to three months.

“Tarik has started his throwing program, which is significant news just that it’s increased his rehab progression to the next phase, which is really exciting,” manager A.J, Hinch said Friday. “We thought this procedure would lead to a step-by-step process and this next step is literally the throwing program. So he initiated that earlier this week and will continue to play catch daily until we ramp him up to the bullpen.”

Skubal felt irritation in his last start, on April 29 against Atlanta, but remained in the game and struck out the side in his seventh and final inning. He was scratched on the day of his next scheduled start.

Skubal is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA in seven starts, striking out 45 and walking six in 43 1/3 innings. He has a $32 million salary after winning in arbitration and is eligible for free agency after the World Series.

Gotterup posts

lowest score

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — Chris Gotterup had enough Jersey toughness to handle the cold wind Friday morning in the PGA Championship and then poured it on at the end with three straight birdies, giving him a 5-under 65 for the low round of the tournament.

Scottie Scheffler took a while to get settled down after not hitting a fairway until his ninth hole. He salvaged a 1-over 71 and was one behind. Hideki Matsuyama was 3-under par in his quest for a second major. Aronimink is plenty difficult without dealing with blustery conditions that made it feel colder than the low 50s for so much of the morning.

Gotterup has three PGA Tour titles since July, two of them this year to reach No. 10 in the world.

Clarke’s death

investigated

(AP) — Brandon Clarke’s death raised countless questions. So far, there are few answers. And it’ll probably stay that way for a while.

The Memphis Grizzlies forward was found dead inside a home near Los Angeles on Monday, and a person familiar with the terms of the investigation told The Associated Press on Tuesday that drug paraphernalia was found at the residence. The 29-year-old Clarke was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.

An autopsy was performed, but the cause of death could take weeks to determine.

Double MMA

comeback slated

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano aren’t bothering to pretend to hate each other this week. These trailblazing fighters have been through too much and been away from mixed martial arts for too long to get caught up in their sport’s usual pre-fight posturing and preening.

When they enter the cage at Intuit Dome in a double comeback for the ages tongiht, they’ll do it with a mutual respect borne from the similarities between their two remarkable journeys to this unlikely night. And then they’ll attack with all they’ve got left, perhaps for the very last time.

Woodson

headed to U-M

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Charles Woodson Jr. has committed to play college football at Michigan, which is where his dad won the Heisman Trophy in 1997. The defensive back is headed to Ann Arbor, where he’ll play under first-year coach Kyle Whittingham.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound rising senior will be part of the 2027 class. Woodson picked the Wolverines over several other schools, including Florida St, Mississippi, Texas A&M, Iowa State and Kentucky, according to ESPN.

The elder Woodson is one of the all-time great college football defensive backs, starring for Michigan from 1995 to 1997. He led the Wolverines to the national title in 1997.

Josh Smith

hospitalized

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers second baseman Josh Smith is expected to be hospitalized for at least a week to be treated for viral meningitis. The team says Smith will remain in a Dallas-area hospital until he has returned to full health. That’s expected to be within 7-10 days. A plan for return to play will be determined once Smith resumes physical activity.

The Rangers say Smith went to a doctor Wednesday after feeling ill.

Meningitis is a swelling of the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord that can be caused by a viral infection.