The Detroit Tigers got absolutely leveled on Sunday, taking a 3-2 defeat against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim and failing to complete the sweep. But that close loss isn’t even the biggest story here. Forget the offense “wasting all its gas” the night before; their starting pitcher Casey Mize got absolutely rocked on the left wrist by a screaming 108 mph comebacker, forcing him out of the game super early. What a gut punch, right? Now the Motor City Kitties have to shake it off fast because they’re heading to Wrigley Field for a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs, starting Monday.
Flaherty’s Fire vs. Taillon’s Return: A Tale of Two Pitchers
So who’s on the bump for the Tigers in Game 1? It’s right-hander Jack Flaherty, and get this: the guy has been on an absolute tear since June. We’re talking a 2.12 ERA and a ridiculous 2.46 FIP over his last six starts, chewing up 29 2/3 innings of work. He’s struck out 34 batters, walked just 10, and only given up one home run over that stretch. Yeah, he’s averaging just under five frames per outing, but the dude is getting the job done! The Tigers have actually *won* four of those six appearances, which is huge when your ace is dealing. This 30-year-old veteran is playing some seriously good baseball right now.
But on the other side? It’s the Cubs’ Jameson Taillon, another righty, and man, this season has been rough for him. The 34-year-old is having what’s described as his “worst season in the big leagues” and he’s making his first start *off the injured list*. He was shelved in early June with a left hamstring injury. Before hitting the IL, Taillon had thrown just his third quality start of 2026 against the Athletics, giving up two runs on six hits (including a homer) and a walk, while fanning six in 6 1/3 innings, but still took the loss in a 2-1 defeat. His last outing before the injury was even shorter, lasting just one inning against the San Francisco Giants, allowing a run on two hits and two walks, with two strikeouts before he was pulled. What a contrast!
Game 100: Tigers vs. Cubs Under the Lights
So here we are, Game 100 for the Tigers, with Flaherty (3-8, 4.48 ERA) facing Taillon (2-5, 5.19 ERA). You’ve got the 46-53 Tigers heading into Chicago against the 56-43 Cubs. It’s a prime-time matchup at 8:05 p.m. ET at iconic Wrigley Field. Flaherty’s overall numbers for the season (18 games, 82.1 IP, 1.5 fWAR) are definitely better than Taillon’s (13 games, 67.2 IP, -0.7 fWAR), but it’s that recent hot streak that really matters. Can Flaherty keep dealing, or will Taillon find some magic after his return? This series opener is going to be all about which pitcher can step up for their squad. You absolutely gotta tune in to see this one play out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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