Tigers Rotation Chaos Continues as A.J. Hinch Won’t Commit to Ty Madden Start
A.J. Hinch would not confirm Ty Madden as Saturday’s starter as the Tigers continue battling rotation chaos.
What looked like the biggest strength of the Detroit Tigers entering the 2026 season has quickly become the organization’s biggest question mark. With Tarik Skubal , Justin Verlander , and Casey Mize all on the injured list, plus Framber Valdez serving a suspension, Detroit is suddenly scrambling just to cover innings. That uncertainty continued Friday when manager A.
J. Hinch refused to officially confirm whether Ty Madden will actually start Saturday against the Kansas City Royals. Tigers Still Undecided on Ty Madden Ty Madden appeared as Detroit’s probable starter for Saturday’s game, but Hinch made it clear nothing is finalized yet.
“I don’t know,” Hinch said Friday via the Detroit Free Press when asked whether Madden would get the start. That answer perfectly captures where the Tigers currently stand. Detroit is operating almost entirely day-to-day with its pitching staff, adjusting based on workload, bullpen availability, and who survives each game healthy.
Ty Madden Earned Another Opportunity Even if Hinch remains noncommittal, Madden certainly made a strong case for more innings. The right-hander was recalled earlier this week after Tarik Skubal underwent elbow surgery, and he immediately impressed in Monday’s loss to the Boston Red Sox. Madden threw five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts while serving as Detroit’s bulk reliever.