The Detroit Tigers have used their starting rotation to jump out to a seven-game lead in the American League Central division this season. But the group has hit some hard times as they go through the month of June.
Tarik Skubal remains one of the best pitchers in baseball but Jack Flaherty has tailed off after a hot start. The Tigers have also dealt with injury issues to Reese Olson and took another hit when it was announced on Wednesday that Jackson Jobe will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the season.
Losing one of the top young pitchers in baseball already puts pressure on the rest of the rotation to step up. But it puts a returning starter under the spotlight as he makes his way toward his season debut.
Alex Cobb Put Under Tigers’ Spotlight After Jackson Jobe’s Injury News
The Tigers made an interesting decision when they signed Alex Cobb to a one-year, $15 million contract last winter. Cobb had a solid four-year stretch where he went 24-19 with a 3.75 ERA with the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians to justify the deal. But he also was considering retirement after throwing just 16.1 innings due to a hip injury.
The injury history made Cobb’s signing controversial and the 37-year-old hasn’t pitched in the majors this season as he rehabs his hip. Although his rehab assignment has begun, Cobb had a bumpy start at Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday night, allowing one run, one hit and three walks with a pair of strikeouts in two innings against the Omaha Storm Chasers.
Detroit was likely relying on Cobb for rotation depth, but his return may become a necessity with Jobe’s injury. Skubal is chasing another Cy Young Award, going 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA entering Thursday’s series finale against the Baltimore Orioles. Casey Mize has stepped up to go 6-2 with a 2.95 ERA this season but Olson remains on the injured list with right ring finger inflammation and Flaherty has a 3.89 ERA in his last eight starts.
Sawyer Gipson-Long and Keider Montero may be able to fill the holes in the short term, but the Tigers are going to need Cobb to contribute if they want to keep their hot start going through the second half of the season.