The AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers suffered a setback Friday, placing promising right-hander Jackson Jobe on the 15-day injured list with a Grade 1 flexor strain. In a corresponding move, the team recalled reliever Dylan Smith from Triple-A.
Jobe, 22, was ranked as the Tigers’ top pitching prospect and the No. 6 overall prospect in baseball entering the 2025 season. His rookie campaign has had its ups and downs, posting a 4.22 ERA over 10 starts (49 innings) with subpar strikeout (7.2 K/9) and walk (5.0 BB/9) numbers. He’s also struggled to generate ground balls and limit hard contact, areas he’ll likely look to improve upon once healthy.
The AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers have suffered a significant setback, placing 22-year-old right-hander Jackson Jobe on the 15-day injured list with a Grade 1 flexor strain, the team announced Friday. In a corresponding move, reliever Dylan Smith was recalled from Triple-A.
While Jobe’s rookie season has been uneven—posting a 4.22 ERA across 10 starts with below-average strikeout (7.2 K/9) and walk (5.0 BB/9) rates—he’s flashed elite raw stuff and remains one of the game’s most promising young arms. Unfortunately, flexor strains are rarely quick recoveries. According to Baseball Prospectus, pitchers with flexor strains from 2021–24 missed an average of 111 days, and the injury can sometimes lead to Tommy John surgery, though that’s not always the case.
Jobe becomes the fourth Tigers starter currently on the major league IL, joining Reese Olson (finger inflammation), Alex Cobb (hip inflammation), and Sawyer Gipson-Long (elbow surgery). The club’s rotation depth now includes:
- LHP Tarik Skubal
- RHP Casey Mize
- RHP Jack Flaherty
- RHP Keider Montero
- RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long (on rehab assignment, 2.20 ERA in 16 1/3 IP across five starts)
Gipson-Long is with the team in Kansas City and will throw a bullpen session Saturday. If all goes well, he could be activated to replace Jobe in the rotation, though the Tigers have yet to confirm their plan.
Despite Jobe being arguably the rotation’s weakest link statistically, his long-term upside is undeniable, and time on the injured list stalls his development. The Tigers’ pitching has been a driving force behind their league-best 37–20 record. Detroit’s starters rank fourth in MLB with a 3.22 ERA and fifth in WAR (5.8), according to FanGraphs.
Thankfully for the Tigers, they’ve built a six-game cushion in the AL Central and are well-positioned to weather this loss. Tarik Skubal has emerged as arguably the best pitcher in baseball, and the trio of Flaherty, Mize, and Olson (once healthy) forms a strong supporting cast for the postseason.
With the trade deadline still weeks away, Detroit may eventually pursue pitching help, though any additions are likely to be depth options rather than playoff rotation anchors. For now, the Tigers will rely on internal reinforcements as they continue their strong 2025 campaign—currently holding the top spot in most power rankings and boasting the AL’s best playoff odds (-2500 via DraftKings).
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