The Detroit Tigers are heading into the 2026 season with something they haven’t had in a long time: a rotation that can go toe-to-toe with just about anyone in the league. And they’re not just deep - they’re dangerous.
Leading the charge is reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who’s coming off a breakout year that firmly established him as one of the best arms in baseball. But now, he’s got some serious company - and not just any company.
Justin Verlander is back in a Tigers uniform, and that reunion is more than just a feel-good story. It’s a potentially game-changing move for a team with October ambitions.
Let’s talk about this rotation. Skubal, Verlander, Casey Mize, Jack Flaherty, and Framber Valdez.
That’s a mix of power, pedigree, and playoff experience that few teams can match. If they stay healthy, this group has the kind of upside that makes you start thinking about champagne showers in late October.
For Skubal, the presence of Verlander is more than just symbolic. It’s personal.
“If you would’ve told me 10 years ago that I’m gonna be lockermates with Justin Verlander, and we’re gonna be in the same rotation, I would’ve called you f****** crazy,” Skubal said, still clearly in awe. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool.
I’m getting goosebumps right now. It’s pretty special, and he’s great.
He’s gonna be great for our team. He’s gonna be great for me.”
That’s not just a Cy Young winner talking - that’s a guy who knows the value of having a future Hall of Famer in the same clubhouse, in the same bullpen sessions, and in the same dugout when the game’s on the line.
Verlander’s return to Detroit feels like a full-circle moment. He helped define an era of Tigers baseball, and now he’s back to help usher in a new one.
This could very well be his final ride, and there’s something poetic about him potentially ending it where it all began. But make no mistake - he’s not here for nostalgia.
He’s here to win.
Of course, the road to October never comes without potholes. The Tigers have already taken some hits to their depth.
Right-hander Reese Olson is expected to miss the entire season after undergoing labral repair surgery. And promising young arm Jackson Jobe is also sidelined, recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Those are tough losses, especially for a team that’s building its identity around pitching.
But that’s where the top of the rotation becomes even more important. Skubal and Verlander aren’t just the headliners - they’re the tone-setters. With Mize, Flaherty, and Valdez rounding things out, this group has the kind of balance that can carry a team through the grind of a 162-game season and into the fire of the postseason.
Spring training is already underway, with pitchers and catchers reporting and the early work beginning. For the Tigers, this is more than just another camp - it’s the start of something they believe can be special. There’s talent, there’s leadership, and now, there’s belief.
Detroit hasn’t been this loaded on the mound in a long time. And if the arms hold up, don’t be surprised if this team is still playing deep into October.