Run Prevention A Major Key To Detroit Tigers’ Great Success

The Detroit Tigers have a record of 47-27, which is the best in Major League Baseball.

The Tigers may have the best overall pitching staff in the game.

The Tigers pitching staff is masterful at preventing the opposition from scoring.

After their June 17 victory against the Pittsburgh, the opposition has scored only 277 runs against Detroit.

Consider that the Houston Astros have yielded over 700 runs.

The Tigers have an extremely formidable starting rotation, led by 2024 American League Cy Young Award winner, Tarik Skubal.

Skubal, 28, is the only left-hander in a stellar Tigers rotation. He has fashioned a 7-2 record, with a 1.99 ERA, and 0.81 WHIP in 14 starts, covering 90.1 innings.

Skubal has struck out 111, while walking nine.

It almost seems plausible that every time Skubal takes the mound, he could throw a no-hitter.

That’s how good his stuff is. That’s how good his control and command are from the beginning of the game, until the last batter he faces.

Skubal is usually joined in the rotation by:

Jack Flaherty-RHP-Age 29

Jackson Jobe-RHP-Age 22

Casey Mize-RHP-Age 28

Reese Olson-RHP-Age 25

Jobe is sidelined now with a strained elbow flexor, and is on the Injured List.

Olson is sidelined now with inflammation of his ring finger and is also disable.

Right hander Keider Montero, 24, has entered the rotation for now. He is joined by right-hander, Sawyer Gipson-Long, 27. Each of Montero and Gipson-Long will start until Jobe and Olson return.

Here are highlights regarding Skubal, Flaherty, and Mize, who anchor the rotation while Jobe and Olson recover from their injuries.

Tarik Skubal-9th round draft pick in 2018

Skubal was pick No. 255 in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. Rarely, does the baseball world experience auch a dramatic shirt from a 9th round draft position to Cy Young success. Skubal has defied the odds.

An All Star last season, Skubal won the 2024 American League Cy Young Award.

So far this year, Skubal is clearly in the Cy Young conversation, and he may be the favorite in the race.

Skubal is 6-3, 240 pounds, and is nicely proportioned for a pitcher going deeply in games. He has strength and stamina to handle cold and hot, humid weather.

Skubal pitched at Seattle University, where he spent parts of three seasons on the mound.

Last year, Skubal went 18-4, with a 2.39 ERA, and 2.49 WHIP in 31 starts, covering 192 innings.

Jack Flaherty-1st round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014.

Flaherty received a $2M signing bonus from the Cardinals.

The Cardinals traded Flaherty to the Baltimore Orioles in 2023.

Flaherty signed with the Tigers as a free agent in December 2023.

The Tigers traded Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2024.

Flaherty returned to the Tigers as a free agent in February 2025.

Flaherty has signed a two-year, $35 million contract with Detroit.

As well as Flaherty has pitched, he has never been an All Star.

Last season, Flaherty had a combined 13-7 record with the Dodgers, and Cardinals. He threw to a 3.17 ERA, and 1.066 WHIP.

So far this season, has made 14 starts. He has a record of 5-7.

He has a 4.03 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 76 innings.

Casey Mize-ist round draft pick of the Tigers in 2018. He was the first overall player taken in the draft.

The Tigers gave Mize a $7.5 million signing bonus.

Mize is working on a one-year, $2.3 million contract. He won’t be eligible for free agency until 2027.

Mize was injured, and did not pitch in 2023. In 2024, Mize made no starts, but pitched 20 games in relief. He threw to a 2-6 record, with a 4.49 ERA, and 1.46 WHIP.

Strong and healthy this season, Mize has become the pitcher the Tigers had hoped they drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2018.

So far this year, Mize is 7-2, with a 2.96 ERA, and a 1.24 WHIP in 12 starts, covering 67 innings.

At the start of play June 17, the Tigers had a sparkling team ERA of 3.34. The team WHIP is only 1.18. The opposition is hitting only .232 against Tigers pitching.

The Tigers have a balanced team, with a competitive offense, good defense, and superb pitching.

Preventing runs is a crucial component of the Tigers success.