Photo Credit: Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images

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We are 15 days away from the start of the ‘Gritty Tigs’ sequel, which begins in L.A. against the defending World Series Champion Dodgers on March 27th.

The Detroit Tigers returned to the postseason for the first time in a decade last season and will once again depend on the youth movement to earn their way back to October.

Scott Harris didn’t bring in a lot of veteran talent to compete with the up and coming MLB prospects. Detroit’s lineup and starting rotation will have a similar look.

One of the familiar faces was brought back this off-season after being traded at the deadline last year. Jack Flaherty will slide back into the second spot in the rotation behind defending Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. Both have shined in spring training and could be the duo that paves the way for a deep playoff run.

Are Skubal and Flaherty the best pitching duo in baseball?

Last year, Skubal and Flaherty were very productive as the top two starters in the Tigers’ rotation, but got very little run support in return early in the season. As good as they were, I believe the potential is even greater for Detroit’s 1-2 punch.

Tarik Skubal this spring: 1-0 record, 8.1 innings pitched, six hits, two runs allowed, eight strikeouts, one walk, and a 2.16 ERA.

Jack Flaherty this spring: 0-0 record, six innings pitched, one hit, one run allowed, five strikeouts, four walks and a 1.50 ERA.

Skubal entered spring training last year with Cy Young hype surrounding him, but by the time spring training ended, he was a frontrunner for the award. He’s had another stellar camp in Lakeland and can absolutely be a back-to-back Cy Young winner.

Jack Flaherty pitched four no-hit innings against the Braves in a 3-1 Tigers win on Tuesday. His pitches have had a lot of movement, and he’s consistently generating swings & misses, just as he did last year. If he can be even better this year, Detroit may have the best pitching duo in baseball.

This is the best Tigers 1-2 punch since… 2013?

Photo Credit: Brad White/Getty Images

The Detroit Tigers’ rotation was elite from top to bottom in the early 2010s. Justin Verlander was the team’s ace and, with help from the roster around him, led Detroit to a World Series appearance in 2012.

Since then, they haven’t been able to pack a powerful punch with the starting rotation. Last season was the closest the Tigers have been to that dominant 1-2 punch, but they parted ways with Flaherty at the deadline.

Could a full season of Skubal/Flaherty be the best top half of the starting rotation since Verlander and Max Scherzer?

Comparing Tarik Skubal’s 2024 season to Max Scherzer’s 2013 season:

Although Verlander was technically the ace that season pitching from the first slot in the rotation, Scherzer put up better numbers closer to Skubal last season.

Skubal: 31 games, 18-4 record, 228 strikeouts, 35 walks, 2.39 ERA, 170 ERA+, 2.49 FIP, 0.922 WHIP.

Scherzer: 32 games, 21-3 record, 240 strikeouts, 56 walks, 2.90 ERA, 144 ERA+, 2.39 FIP, 0.970 WHIP.

Comparing Jack Flaherty’s 2024 season with the Tigers to Justin Verlander’s 2013 season:

*Because Flaherty only played with Detroit for half a season I’m comparing stats differently than I did with Skubal/Scherzer.

Flaherty: 18 games, .583 winning percentage, 2.95 ERA, 138 ERA+, 3.12 FIP, 0.956 WHIP

Verlander: 34 games, .520 winning percentage, 3.46 ERA, 120 ERA+, 3.26 FIP, 1.308 WHIP.

Wrap-Up:

The Tigers’ 2025 season will go as far as the starting rotation takes them. They have the potential to make a deep postseason run to the World Series.

Skubal and Flaherty will be the most important factors for the Tigers this season, but the entire rotation has the opportunity to take a big step forward. Reese Olson, Jackson Jobe, Casey Mize, Jose Urquidy, and Kenta Maeda are all fighting for a spot in the rotation behind the Tigers elite 1-2 punch.

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