The Detroit Tigers have clawed their way into contender status behind one of the most dominant arms in baseball. Tarik Skubal has carried the rotation and now stands in position to capture his second straight AL Cy Young Award. If he wins, he’ll become the first pitcher since Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez to repeat the honor, dating back to 1999 and 2000.
However, as Bleacher Report pointed out, that remarkable achievement hides the Tigers’ most glaring postseason weakness: starting pitching depth beyond Skubal.
Skubal Leads, Rotation Lags
Skubal has become the kind of ace who gives Detroit a clear advantage in any Game 1 matchup. The problem comes after him.
Jack Flaherty was supposed to stabilize the rotation after returning for his second stint in Detroit, fresh off a World Series win with the Dodgers. Instead, he has struggled to replicate that form, posting a 4.85 ERA in 28 starts. Advanced metrics show a slightly better picture—his 4.10 xERA and 3.97 FIP suggest some bad luck—but the Tigers still need more consistency from him if they expect to make a deep run.
Injuries have ravaged the rest of the rotation. Alex Cobb signed a $15 million deal but never took the mound this season due to a hip injury that will keep him sidelined. Top prospect Jackson Jobe, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft, went down in June with Tommy John surgery. Reese Olson impressed with a 3.15 ERA across 13 starts, but a shoulder strain ended his regular season and left only faint hope for an October return.
That leaves Detroit leaning on shaky alternatives. Casey Mize, once the face of the rebuild, owns a 5.59 ERA since his first All-Star appearance. Veteran Charlie Morton, brought in for his postseason pedigree, has delivered a 5.81 ERA at age 41 and looks more like a liability than an asset.
Hinch Faces October Test
Manager A.J. Hinch faces a major challenge as the postseason approaches. Skubal alone makes the Tigers dangerous, but in a best-of-five or best-of-seven series, Detroit’s ceiling crashes if they cannot secure wins behind their ace.
Bleacher Report put it bluntly: “As great as Skubal is, the Tigers are screwed if they don’t win his starts.” Even if they do, Hinch must piece together a rotation from mismatched arms, relying on shaky veterans or inexperienced pitchers forced into high-pressure roles.
Detroit’s formula for playoff survival remains clear but fragile. Ride Skubal for as many innings as possible, steal one win from Flaherty or Mize, and hope the bullpen covers the rest. Anything less, and October could be brief.
The Tigers have taken huge strides in 2025, but one flaw continues to haunt them. Skubal might be the best pitcher in baseball, yet even an ace can only pitch every five days. Without reinforcements or a surprise breakout, Detroit’s postseason hopes sit squarely on one man’s left arm—and that’s why Bleacher Report labeled starting pitching depth as this contender’s fatal flaw.
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