Tigers Ace Tarik Skubal Stunned by Justin Verlander's Arrival

Skubal admits he would have called it "f****** crazy" to be locker mates with Verlander.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal expressed his surprise and excitement at the prospect of having future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander as his new teammate. Skubal, a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner, said he never imagined he would be in the same rotation as the 42-year-old Verlander, who the Tigers signed this offseason.

Why it matters

Verlander's arrival in Detroit adds significant veteran experience and star power to the Tigers' starting rotation, which already includes young aces like Skubal. The pairing of Verlander and Skubal could help propel the Tigers to contention in the AL Central.

The details

Verlander, a nine-time All-Star, is set to begin his 21st MLB season after spending last year with the San Francisco Giants. He will join a Tigers rotation that includes Skubal, Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize. Skubal, 29, is coming off back-to-back Cy Young Award-winning seasons and will look to continue his dominance with Verlander as a mentor.

  • Verlander signed with the Tigers this offseason.
  • The Tigers will face the New York Yankees in their first spring training game on February 21, 2026.

The players

Tarik Skubal

The Detroit Tigers' ace pitcher, a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner.

Justin Verlander

A future Hall of Fame pitcher who has signed with the Detroit Tigers for the 2026 season after spending last year with the San Francisco Giants.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Tarik Skubal, Tigers Ace (FOX 2 Sports)

What’s next

The Tigers and Yankees will face off in their first spring training game on February 21, 2026, giving fans their first glimpse of the new-look Tigers rotation featuring Verlander and Skubal.

The takeaway

The addition of future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander to the Detroit Tigers' starting rotation, alongside the team's young ace Tarik Skubal, has created a sense of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season. This pairing of veteran experience and youthful talent could propel the Tigers to new heights in the AL Central.