Projecting Tigers starting rotation assuming Jackson Jobe earns Opening Day spot

Jackson Jobe, baseball's top pitching prospect behind Roki Sasaki, has a very good shot at breaking into the Tigers' 2025 rotation, but has some stiff competition ahead. Casey Mize, Keider Montero, and Kenta Maeda are all fighting for one of those two open spots themselves, and those three have already put up some admirable appearances in spring training so far (well, Maeda looked good in his first and then bad in his second).

Jobe has made two starts so far. His first was a two-inning outing against the Orioles when he gave up two earned runs on a homer to Heston Kjerstad. His second appearance was better; he went three innings against the Phillies and did give up a homer again, but struck out three and touched 99.8 MPH on his fastball.

Given the Tigers' propensity for sticking by their prospects in addition to Alex Cobb's injury leaving two rotation spots open, it feels fair to predict that Jobe will make it in behind Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Reese Olson, and one of Mize, Montero, and Maeda. But which one of those three will it be?

Projecting the Detroit Tigers' 2025 Opening Day starting rotation

1. Tarik Skubal
2. Jack Flaherty
3. Reese Olson
4. Casey Mize
5. Jackson Jobe

Mize, Montero, and Maeda all come with different pros and cons. Mize looked great in his first two spring outings and has even reworked his slider to be deployed like three different pitches, but it may not be enough to assuage fears from four seasons when he was either mostly injured or not living up to expectations. Montero showed a lot of promise last year, but the Tigers may want to give Mize one final shot. Maeda was pretty awful, but he's still owed $10 million in 2025.

If we had to guess, we'd say Mize ends up back in the rotation and Montero goes to the bullpen as a long reliever while the Tigers try to forget that Maeda is on the roster. If Mize does redeem himself enough to be in the rotation by Opening Day, it really feels like it might be his last chance, and the Tigers would have to cut him loose somehow in the offseason if he underwhelms again.

Regardless, we should probably expect to see Jobe on the Opening Day roster. The Tigers have incentive to give him a spot (a draft pick if he wins Rookie of the Year or places in the top three of Cy Young voting), but fans also just want to see one of the most promising pitching prospects in the game get a real shot.