The Detroit Tigers have a date with the postseason this October, as they have the top spot in the American League and look to close out the AL Central in the coming weeks.
While a postseason berth is just around the corner, the Tigers will have to make a difficult decision come October. That decision is who slides into the number-two starter role behind Tarik Skubal in the postseason.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Tigers do have a preferred starter to be the number-two option behind Skubal. While it's not perfect, as the Tigers' starters other than Skubal have struggled, it's still a solid option behind their ace.
Who is Detroit's No.2 Starter Come October?
Rosenthal revealed in a piece that of the three options, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, and Charlie Morton, the most likely candidate to be the No.2 starter is Flaherty.
"Flaherty, who returned to the team last offseason on a two-year, $35 million free-agent contract with an opt-out," Rosenthal writes, "almost certainly will be the team's preference to start Game 2."
While Detroit could see A.J. Hinch pull Flaherty early in his start, as he has done a few times with different starters this season, the Tigers' ideal scenario would be for Flaherty to put together solid performances in October for the team.
He had a great 2024 season between the Tigers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he did struggle in the postseason. He had a 7.36 ERA in five starts for Los Angeles, but they still went on to win the World Series.
MORE: One Jack Flaherty statistic that should concern Tigers fans
This season, he has a 4.74 ERA and a 7-13 record. He's still striking out a solid number of hitters, with 169 strikeouts in 142.1 innings pitched across 27 starts.
However, his struggles on the mound make his spot as the team's number two starter by October more uncertain. For now, barring one of the other pitchers having a dominant finish to the 2025 regular season, Flaherty will likely get the start after Skubal.
As Rosenthal writes, Flaherty "warrants only so much trust." His struggles are a concern for Detroit, but he's still the team's best option come October as a number-two starter. Mize and Morton have struggled at times, too, so there's no clear, ideal number-two starter choice.
MORE MLB NEWS:
- Cardinals not expected to be competitive in 2026, according to insider
- Insider provides exciting update on Padres trade deadline acquisition
- Astros get Yordan Alvarez back in lineup for first time in 100 games
- Guardians jokingly thank Taylor Swift amid 2026 schedule release, engagement announcement
- Guardians' 2021 decision coming back to haunt them amid losing skid
- Cardinals' Willson Contreras apologized to coach he hit with his bat