The Detroit Tigers are starting to look like a problem in the American League Central - and not the kind opponents want to deal with. With the recent addition of Framber Valdez, manager A.J.
Hinch now has one of the most formidable one-two punches from the left side in all of baseball. Pair that with a group of steady right-handers and the veteran presence of Kenley Jansen locking things down in the bullpen, and it’s clear the Tigers are building their identity around pitching - and doing it well.
At the heart of that identity is Tarik Skubal, the kind of ace who doesn’t just take the ball every fifth day - he takes accountability with it. Hinch joined the Foul Territory podcast this week and offered some rare insight into what makes his lefty tick. Spoiler: it’s not sugarcoating.
“You can't BS this dude,” Hinch said. “There are 2-3 times per year when he is just not quite feeling it, and he's not quite punching out the world or whatever. He wants you to kind of punch him in the face and tell him that he stunk that day, or you didn't like the way he did this.”
That kind of blunt honesty isn’t just tolerated by Skubal - it’s welcomed. He wants the raw truth, even when it stings.
It’s how he resets, how he locks back in. Hinch explained that motivating his ace means being direct, laying out expectations clearly, and helping him dial into his routine.
It’s not about coddling; it’s about clarity.
And the results speak for themselves. Skubal’s 2025 campaign was a breakout in every sense.
"He wants you to punch him in the face and tell him that he stunk that day."
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 7, 2026
AJ Hinch says Tarik Skubal's biggest motivator is feedback. 😤 pic.twitter.com/UmbCDdmwsj
He didn’t just pitch well - he set a tone. Even on the rare occasions when things didn’t go his way, he bounced back with a vengeance.
In fact, eight different times last season, Skubal followed a game in which he gave up an earned run with a shutout performance. That’s not just resilience - that’s dominance with a short memory.
It’s easy to see why Hinch and the Tigers are so high on him. Skubal isn’t just leading the staff with his arm - he’s doing it with his mindset.
He wants the hard truth, the tough conversations, the kind of feedback that pushes good pitchers to become great. And with Valdez now joining him at the top of the rotation, Detroit suddenly has a left-handed duo that could give any lineup fits.
Add in a bullpen anchored by Jansen - a guy who’s been through every kind of postseason pressure - and the Tigers are quietly building a staff with both bite and balance. If the rotation stays healthy and the bullpen holds up, Detroit won’t just be a team to watch in the AL Central. They’ll be a team you don’t want to face in October.
The Tigers are leaning into their strength - elite pitching - and Tarik Skubal is setting the tone. Not just with his stuff, but with a mindset that demands honesty, accountability, and constant improvement. That’s the kind of foundation contenders are built on.