Jackson Jobe's dominant start after TJ has Tigers fans forgetting all about Tarik Skubal

On Friday, the Tigers reactivated Jackson Jobe from the 60-day IL and promptly scheduled him to make his first start in 14 months the next day.

Despite undergoing Tommy John last year, Jobe's velocity was back up to 100 MPH as soon as he got back onto a mound in his first live session against hitters, and he continued to touch 100 throughout his lengthy rehab assignment.

But the minors are one thing, the majors are another. After the Tigers gave up two of their best starters at the trade deadline, all eyes were on Jobe when he took the mound against the Giants on Saturday night. Could he actually be the answer Scott Harris was undoubtedly hoping he would be after losing Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize?

Jobe proceeded to pitch five one-hit innings and get to 100.1 MPH on his fastball as early as his seventh pitch. It sat at 98.3, up 1.8 MPH from his average last season. He pulled out almost every pitch in his arsenal and unleashed a nasty diving changeup on Rafael Devers that made him look like Javy Báez in the box. (We still love you, Javy).

Jackson Jobe's first start since Tommy John was a breath of fresh air for Tigers fans after Tarik Skubal's departure

Without Skubal and Mize, the Tigers rotation is headed by Framber Valdez, followed by Troy Melton, Keider Montero, Drew Anderson, and Jobe (though perhaps. not in that particular order). The jury is still out on Montero, who has been shaky as of late, and Anderson, who moved up to the rotation after Mize was dealt, but Melton and Jobe are doing exactly what Harris wanted them to do: they're giving Tigers fans hope.

Melton has been said to be one of the reasons Harris and the Tigers' front office would remain steadfast in their belief that Detroit could thread the needle even without Skubal and Mize, but we might've forgotten about or underestimated Jobe.

It was fair to keep expectations low, given that he was just coming off a major surgery, but the Tigers' former No. 1 prospect looked dialed through his five innings, and fans were left wishing that AJ Hinch left him in for a sixth.

Jobe and Melton will be around long after Valdez or even Anderson. Along with Dillon Dingler, Kevin McGonigle, and Max Clark, that's a core the Tigers can continue to build around. It might be one that can get them to October in 2026.

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