As the flame-throwing righty finds his groove following surgery, Detroit fans get a final look at the electric arm poised to lead the franchise’s next pitching generation.
As the Tigers approach the final three games of the regular season, the standings are the last thing on Detroit’s mind after being eliminated from playoff contention.
Instead, the Tigers will use these final games as an opportunity to give back to the fans who have stuck with them throughout the season, including a special weekend at Comerica Park.
Saturday will feature Justin Verlander’s final start of his MLB career in front of the same Comerica Park fans who watched him emerge as a baby-faced rookie with a cannon for an arm nearly two decades ago.
But Verlander is not taking the mound Friday night.
That spot belongs to another baby-faced pitcher with the potential to become a major part of the Tigers’ future: Jackson Jobe.
Jackson Jobe Is Finding His Groove
Jobe returned from the injured list this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. He has now made seven starts for Detroit, and over his last three outings, he has truly begun to ramp things up.
Over those three games, Jobe has pitched 17.1 innings while striking out 24 batters, showcasing an impressive swing-and-miss arsenal. He has also issued just four walks during that span.
Jobe has allowed six earned runs across those three starts, giving him a 3.14 ERA over that stretch.
Overall, Jobe enters his final start with a 2-3 record and a 3.98 ERA on the season. His record, however, does not tell the entire story of how he has pitched.
In fact, despite posting a 3.14 ERA over his last three starts, Jobe is 1-2 during that stretch. He has not allowed more than three runs in any of those outings, showing just how little room for error there has been when Detroit's offense has struggled to provide run support.
A Glimpse of the Future
Now, Jobe gets another opportunity to take his fiery arm, impressive spin rates and increasingly dangerous velocity to the mound and give Tigers fans another glimpse at what could be a future All-Star.
There is an interesting connection between Jobe and Verlander beyond simply wearing the same uniform.
Verlander never dealt with the type of injury Jobe experienced at the beginning of his career, but the similarities in appearance and pitching presence are difficult to ignore.
Twenty years ago, Tigers fans watched a tall, baby-faced Verlander emerge with a powerful fastball and the potential to become something special.
Now, Jobe walks onto that same mound with a baby face and a heater of his own.
Maybe the Tigers are trying to manifest the next great Justin Verlander.
The Next Generation of Tigers Pitching
Detroit is already deep into a youth movement, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Now, following the trades of Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize earlier this season, that youth movement could begin to infiltrate the pitching staff as well.
Jobe will be joined by a group that includes Troy Melton, River Ryan, Reese Olson and others as the Tigers look toward the future of their rotation.
It should be a fun group to watch develop.
Before Detroit gets to next season, however, there is one more opportunity to watch Jobe take the mound.
Friday night against Pittsburgh, Jobe will look to record at least seven strikeouts for the fourth consecutive start.
For a team already looking toward the future, there may not be a better way to close out the season than getting another look at one of the most exciting young arms in the organization.
