As the baseball world eagerly anticipates the start of the Grapefruit League, one question looms large: Who will dominate the mound in these early matchups? The Detroit Tigers are gearing up for an exciting weekend, with their 2026 spring schedule kicking off this Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET against the Yankees. But here's where it gets intriguing—the Tigers' pitching plan for these initial games has been unveiled, and it's packed with both seasoned veterans and promising newcomers.
Following their opener, the Tigers will host the Orioles and Twins on Sunday and Monday, respectively, both games also slated for 1:05 p.m. ET starts. According to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic Detroit, the tentative pitching lineup is as follows: Keider Montero will take the mound first against the Yankees, while Jack Flaherty and minor league lefty Bryan Sammons are set to face the Orioles. Tarik Skubal, a key figure in the Tigers' rotation, will make his spring debut on Monday against the Twins, joined by free agent acquisition Drew Anderson. Of course, in the ever-evolving world of baseball, these plans could shift at any moment.
For fans eager to catch the action, Saturday's game will be broadcast on Tigers TV, while Sunday and Monday's matchups will be available exclusively on the radio, with Dan Dickerson providing play-by-play commentary.
And this is the part most people miss: Behind the scenes, future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander has been fine-tuning his game after a brief absence due to personal matters. Verlander and catcher Dillon Dingler engaged in detailed discussions about pitch setups and target preferences, as well as strategies for approaching hitters from different angles. This level of preparation underscores Verlander's commitment to excellence, even in the early stages of spring training.
But let's not forget the young talent making waves. In a recent live batting practice session, 21-year-old slugging prospect Josue Briceño took Tarik Skubal deep, showcasing why he's ranked among the top 100 prospects. Hitting a home run off one of the game's best left-handers is no small feat, especially for the Tigers' #4 ranked prospect. Is Briceño the next big thing, or is it too early to tell? Weigh in below—what are your thoughts on the Tigers' pitching strategy and their emerging stars? Could this be the year they make a significant leap forward?
