Tigers Pitching Depth Shines Beyond Ace Skubal

Which Detroit pitcher will emerge as the team's second-best arm in 2026?

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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As the Detroit Tigers prepare for the 2026 season, their pitching staff is a major source of optimism. Led by ace Tarik Skubal, the rotation also features new addition Framber Valdez, a reunion with future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander, and a revamped bullpen. With so much talent, the question arises: which Tigers pitcher not named Skubal will have the best season?

Why it matters

The Tigers are aiming to make a deep playoff run in 2026, and their pitching staff will be a key factor in determining their success. Identifying the team's second-best pitcher behind Skubal could provide valuable insight into how the rotation and bullpen will perform as a whole.

The details

While Skubal is the clear ace, the Tigers have several other strong pitching options, including newly acquired Framber Valdez, veteran Justin Verlander, and young arms like Casey Mize and Jack Flaherty. The bullpen also received a boost with the additions of Kyle Finnegan and Kenley Jansen. With so much depth, it remains to be seen which pitcher will emerge as the team's second-best option behind Skubal.

  • The 2026 MLB season is set to begin in April 2026.

The players

Tarik Skubal

The Tigers' ace left-handed pitcher and one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Framber Valdez

A newly acquired starting pitcher for the Tigers, known for his strong sinker and control.

Justin Verlander

A future Hall of Fame pitcher who has returned to the Tigers for the 2026 season.

Casey Mize

A young Tigers pitcher with room for growth and development.

Jack Flaherty

A Tigers pitcher looking to rediscover his 2024 form.

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What they’re saying

“While the aforementioned four players are certainly prime candidates, there are other options, such as Casey Mize, who still has some headroom for growth, or perhaps Jack Flaherty can rediscover his 2024 form; maybe Keider Montero finally makes the jump to the next level.”

— Adam Dubbin, Author (yahoo.com)

What’s next

As the Tigers' spring training continues, it will be interesting to see which pitcher emerges as the team's second-best option behind Skubal. The competition for rotation and bullpen spots will be fierce, and the performance of these pitchers in the coming weeks and months will be closely watched by Tigers fans and analysts alike.

The takeaway

The Tigers' pitching staff is shaping up to be one of the team's biggest strengths in 2026, with Tarik Skubal leading the way and a deep supporting cast vying to establish themselves as the second-best option. This competition for rotation and bullpen spots will be a key storyline to follow as the Tigers aim to make a deep playoff run.