Tigers Considering Splitting Up Skubal, Valdez in Rotation

Manager AJ Hinch says the move is just a consideration at this point.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:42pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the windup and delivery of a baseball pitcher, with the player's form broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a color palette of navy, forest green, and burnt orange, conceptually representing the strategic considerations around the Tigers' starting rotation.The Tigers' rotation strategy is being deconstructed, with the potential split of their top two starters creating new challenges and opportunities.Minneapolis Today

During his weekly radio appearance, Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch discussed the possibility of splitting up starting pitchers Tarik Skubal and Eduardo Valdez in the team's rotation. Hinch said that while it's something they've considered, it's not an immediate plan and remains just a topic of discussion at this point.

Why it matters

The Tigers' starting rotation has been a strength for the team, with Skubal and Valdez emerging as a formidable 1-2 punch. Splitting them up could help balance the rotation and create more favorable matchups, but it would also disrupt the chemistry and rhythm the two pitchers have developed.

The details

Hinch said the team has discussed the idea of separating Skubal and Valdez in the rotation, but emphasized that it's not something they plan to implement right away. The manager cited the potential benefits of creating more favorable matchups and balancing the rotation, but acknowledged that the two pitchers have developed strong chemistry and that disrupting that would be a consideration.

  • Hinch discussed the topic during his weekly radio appearance on April 8, 2026.

The players

AJ Hinch

The manager of the Detroit Tigers.

Tarik Skubal

A starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.

Eduardo Valdez

A starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.

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What they’re saying

“Eventually we will do it,”

— AJ Hinch, Tigers Manager

The takeaway

The Tigers' starting rotation has been a strength, but the team is considering ways to potentially split up their top two starters, Skubal and Valdez, in order to create more favorable matchups and balance the rotation. However, the move would also disrupt the chemistry the two pitchers have developed, so it remains just a topic of discussion for now.