Tigers’ starting rotation set, with Jobe, Mize claiming final two spots

LAKELAND, Fla.

News rolled from the Tigers clubhouse Saturday as, at the same time manager AJ Hinch settled on his five-man rotation, it was learned center fielder Parker Meadows will miss at least four more weeks because of a nerve issue in his throwing arm.

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Keider Montero, who had been dueling for a starting job, has been sent to Triple A Toledo to refine a 24-year-old right-handed pitchers otherwise upbeat portfolio.

Meadows ongoing absence is, however, a decided blow to Hinchs lineup and to the Tigers outfield defense, which has what might be considered an irreplaceable weapon in Meadows.

Nothing chronic, nothing long-term, nothing surgical, Hinch said after Meadows had undergone a nerve conduction test in Phoenix, where a minimum of four more weeks of recovery was prescribed.

Doctors who have dealt with this as a career feel very confident a full recovery is coming.

It takes time.

Meadows will continue, Hinch said, to do light hitting as well as running drills, while also playing defense.

But until the nerve in Meadows right (throwing) arm wakes up Hinchs quote from doctors a 25-year-old, left-handed batter and leadoff man in Hinchs lineup will remain on the shelf.

Theres no damage to the nerve, which is encouraging, Hinch said, elaborating on doctors diagnosis, nearly a month after Meadows issue began.

But its also not firing at the level that we need to advance.

So, whats been prescribed is four more weeks of rest.

Obviously, were hoping sometime between now and then theres significant improvement and well be ready to hit the ground running.

The Tigers rotation news was not a surprise after Montero had a bumpy early start Friday night against the Yankees at Lakeland.

Mizes spring has been sturdy and has featured a more dynamic palette of pitches nearly three years after the 2019 first-overall MLB draft pick had Tommy John surgery.

Jobe, 22, and the 2021 drafts third-overall grab, had a late-season Tigers baptism in 2024 and pitched in the Tigers post-season run.

His right-handed dynamism proved irresistible as Hinch and his staff locked-in their initial five starters.

Jobe has a fastball that touches 100 mph, as well as new and improved complementary pitches, including a biting curveball to go with his high-rpm slider.

We have the luxury of having too many starters for the rotation number we need, Hinch said, referring to a rare excess in MLBs typically pitching-thin realm.

Casey threw the ball really well and earned the opportunity to be in the rotation and start the season on a high note, Hinch said after Mize in five Grapefruit League games had a 1.13 ERA and 0.94 WHIP, with 18 strikeouts in 16 innings.

He came determined, he came having had a really good offseason.

His stuff has trended up.

He and Skubal probably pitched against the two hardest lineups you can pitch against in a spring environment (Orioles and Red Sox, respectively, on the road the past week) and he didnt back down.

Im really proud of the work he did leading into this spring and the camp he had to win a rotation spot.

Jobe pitched in four spring games, with a 3.65 ERA and miserly 0.89 WHIP spanning 12.1 innings in which he allowed seven hits, walked four, and struck out eight.

Hes good, Hinch said of a pitcher the Tigers used only in bullpen cameos after he was summoned late last season.

Hes got a lot to work on.

And hes learned a lot.

Weve thrown a ton at him from the end of last season, through the offseason, to now.

That smile on his face when he was told hes going to pitch in Seattle (tentatively, April 2) is very special for a manager and a pitching coach to see the joy in a players voice.

He really did the things we wanted him to work on and apply in a game.

Were happy to hand him the ball in Seattle.

The flip side was telling Montero he would be heading for Toledo, even if it had been clear, perhaps even to Montero, that he was being squeezed from a stocked Tigers rotation.

He took the news constructively, Hinch said.

He knows he has a lot to work on, but also knows the length of the season.

Hes good.

Got good pitches.

Hes going to work on execution and work on shorter at-bats as oppose to some of the longer at-bats we saw this spring.

The Tigers were to play the Braves in their Saturday homefield finale at Marchant Stadium/Publix Field.

Theyll finish the Grapefruit League season Sunday against the Phillies at Clearwater, then fly to San Francisco for a pair of games ahead of Opening Day and the start of the regular season, Thursday against the Dodgers at Los Angeles..

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