MLB News: PCA in Hot Water Again, Skubal Symptom-Free After Surgery
Good Monday afternoon, Dodgers fans.
The Boys in Blue are getting ready to take on the San Diego Padres, but until first pitch at 6:40 p.m. PT, take a look at some of the headlines from around the majors.
One Dodger nemesis and one potential trade target are the subject of much talk around MLB.
Pete Crow-Armstrong cusses out fan
Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong made headlines ahead of the season by disparaging Dodgers fans and then doubling down on his criticism.
But it seems he dislikes fans of teams besides the Dodgers, too.
On Sunday, Crow-Armstrong got into a heated confrontation with a Chicago White Sox fan, with a video recorded by other fans appearing to capture him spitting a string of expletives at the woman. (Editor’s note: The video at that link contains uncensored swear words, including those sexual in nature and derogatory to women.)
PCA apologized Monday, as detailed by Jesse Rogers of ESPN.
“I regret my choice of words the most and who that affects in my life,” Crow-Armstrong said. “Directly or indirectly, I don’t think that any of the women in my life would think I would say those kinds of words regularly. I’m just bummed out about the word choice and a bunch of little kids going to social media and seeing that as well.”
Cubs manager Craig Counsell called the incident “a mistake with his choice of words.”
“He’s aware of that … It’s the reality of this job,” Counsell said. “Fan interactions happen. You want to try and keep them positive even when they’re not.”
Tarik Skubal is throwing already
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is throwing bullpen sessions again less than two weeks after having surgery to remove a loose body in his elbow, the Associated Press reports.
Skubal didn’t go all-out in that bullpen session, but the fact that he’s throwing just days after a surgery that’s sidelined Dodgers Edwin Diaz and Blake Snell for months is an encouraging sign.
“I haven’t had any symptoms since the surgery,” Skubal said Monday, per the AP. “I didn’t realize how much it was impacting me day-to-day until taking that thing out of there.”
Tarik Skubal is back in Detroit. He threw a full bullpen. His accelerated recovery continues to amaze.
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) May 18, 2026
Free to read, with all the latest on the Skubal Scopehttps://t.co/UoQJK35qZppic.twitter.com/NsTx96siMo
“I think the first thing they said was, ‘The recovery will be faster,’” Skubal told Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. “I think I stopped listening after that. It’s like, ‘All right, I’m good with it if you’re good with it.’ You trust the doctors. (Dr. Neal) ElAttrache is the best surgeon in the world. … If he’s comfortable with it, I don’t see why I wouldn’t be comfortable with it.”
ElAttrache is also Snell’s surgeon, so it’s possible Snellzilla will be back sooner than originally thought.
It’s also possible that Skubal, with his quicker recovery, could be back on the Dodgers’ radar as a trade target or free-agent acquisition in the offseason.