​Justin Verlander announcing that the 2026 season will be his final one sent a wave of emotion through the Detroit Tigers clubhouse, perhaps none more resonant than the response from fellow ace Tarik Skubal. When Verlander stepped to the podium Wednesday to explain his retirement decision, Skubal chose a quiet seat at the back of the room. The two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner wasn’t there to speak; he was there to listen.
For Skubal, it was an opportunity to back a teammate, honor a Tigers legend, and soak in the wisdom of one of the game’s all-time greats. “I think it is just important to respect the game,” Skubal said. “He’s been one of the game’s best pitchers. Ever. And I know that decision is tough for him, and you kind of want to support him and let him know that you have his back.”
The two haves developed a close relationship since Verlander’s return to Detroit ahead of the 2026 season. Although injuries limited Verlander to a single start, his impact within the clubhouse has remained strong. Skubal stressed that Verlander’s value goes far beyond what happens every fifth day on the mound.
“There is a ton of knowledge to take away from how he speaks, what he says and how he goes about his business,” Skubal noted. “Just being there was all of those things kind of put together.” That mentorship has woven into Skubal’s daily routine, with the two often chatting about baseball in the clubhouse and even engaging in friendly chess matches that have become a familiar facet of their relationship.
Away from the field, Skubal has enjoyed watching Verlander’s competitive fire. “It’s always fun competing against him in that,” Skubal said. “You can kind of see him start to lock in on that stuff. It has been fun to see that. He has been great for everybody in the clubhouse, including me.”
Verlander’s vast experience has made him a valuable resource for Detroit’s relatively young pitching staff, even as his own season was largely spent battling injuries. Skubal also reflected on a hallmark of Verlander’s durability: in an era when teams frequently favor shorter outings and workload restrictions, Verlander built a Hall of Fame career by routinely pitching deep into games. That mindset continues to resonate with Detroit’s current ace.
“As a starting pitcher, you take pride in eating innings and throwing a ton,” Skubal said. “… I think innings are so valuable and organizations don’t value it as much. They probably want quality starts, but there’s something to be said for the durability and trust that come from going deep into games.”
The relationship between Verlander and Skubal has stood as a microcosm of the Tigers’ evolving pitching culture: reverence for experience, a willingness to learn, and a shared commitment to competing at the highest level. As Verlander prepares to close out a storied career, Skubal’s tribute underscored how much his longtime mentor has already imparted—on the mound and in the clubhouse alike—and how that influence will continue to shape Detroit’s young rotation for seasons to come.