Justin Verlander’s brother outlines Tigers’ 3 major strengths ft. Tarik Skubal
Justin Verlander's brother Ben Verlander heaped praise on the Detroit Tigers after their scintillating start to the new season. Verlander, a former draft pick by Detroit in 2013, discussed the team's strengths this year, including reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
On the most recent episode of the "Flippin' Bats" podcast, Verlander elaborated on the three advantages that the Tigers have, which other MLB teams like the Dodgers lack. The media personality stated Skubal, manager A.J. Hinch, and Javier Baez as the driving forces of the team's success this year.
"You know what the Dodgers and other teams don't have? They don't have Tarik Skubal — the best pitcher in baseball. They don't have A.J. Hinch — the best manager in baseball. [And] they don't have Javier Baez, who's having a resurgence right now," said Verlander. (2:08-2:25)
Skubal, who became just the fourth lefty to win an AL Cy Young in the last decade, is off to another brilliant start. He has posted a 4-2 record in nine starts with a 2.67 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 71 strikeouts this season.
Per Baseball Savant, Skubal is in the 99th percentile in pitching run value and the 100th percentile in offspeed run value. The 28-year-old has also largely kept batters from getting on base as he's in the 99th percentile of walk rate, having issued just six across 54 innings.
Apart from Skubal, Verlander also lauded the strategic prowess of Tigers skipper A.J. Hinch, who was the brainchild of primarily utilizing relievers to finish off games since the backend of 2024. Finally, Verlander commended Javier Baez for getting over a long slump and reinventing himself into one of the best outfielders in the game.
"Baez has probably been the most made fun of baseball player around the league for a couple of years running now," Verlander added. "It's been bad [and] it's been brutal...Entering Sunday's [game], he's hitting .300 with an .836 OPS and six homers. Baez is back. The magician is back, and he's not playing shortstop — he's now playing center field."
The Detroit Tigers' run of dominance in 2025
The Tigers are the only team to have reached 30 wins this year. Detroit holds the best record in baseball at 31-17, including a 17-5 card at home.
The team has balanced both hitting and pitching, and is within the top 10 in the league in counting stats and averages for both categories. Detroit possesses the fifth-best OPS at .754 and sixth-best ERA at 3.36.