Tigers thankful they didn't reunite with former pitcher who already suffered injury

All offseason, the temptation was there. The Detroit Tigers had their pick of the litter when it came to reunions. Three former Tigers' aces found their way onto the free agent market, and it seemed only fitting that at least one of them should return to the Motor City in 2025.

In the end, the Tigers came to terms with former starter Jack Flaherty, though there was some obvious flirtation with both Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. Verlander wound up out in the Bay Area and made his San Francisco Giants' debut over the weekend, while Scherzer agreed to a one-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Verlander had a fine start to the year, going five innings and allowing just two runs in San Fran's opening series against the Cincinnati Reds, but the same cannot be said of Scherzer. The Jays' starter was pulled from his Toronto debut after just three innings on Saturday, and according to the New York Post, is headed for further testing on Monday.

Tigers are thankful they didn't reunite with Max Scherzer after Blue Jays starter has already landed on the IL

The Blue Jays placed Scherzer on the 15-day IL with what's being referred to as thumb inflammation, but his exit from Saturday's game was due to tightness in his right lat. However, according to Scherzer, it all goes back to the thumb.

“This is 100 percent related to the thumb,” Scherzer said. “My shoulder — everything is compensating because of the thumb .... This is a recipe for disaster."

That does not sound promising, and it's quite likely that Toronto could be without the former Cy Young Award-winner for quite some time.

As for the Tigers, they have to be feeling pretty good about their selection of Flaherty over the aging duo of Verlander and Scherzer. Though he didn't factor into the decision during the Tigers' opening series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Flaherty went nearly six innings in his 2025 debut and struck out five batters while allowing just two runs on three hits.

The trio of Jackson Jobe, Casey Mize, and Tarik Skubal will take the hill this week when the Tigers head out to Seattle for a three-game clash with the Mariners. But Tigers fans should expect to see Flaherty back on the bump for Detroit's home opener against the Chicago White Sox later this week.

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