When it comes to elite 1-2 punches on the mound, few in Tigers history - or baseball history - can rival what Denny McLain and Mickey Lolich did in 1968. But in 2025, a new duo is making noise: Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize. With both eras producing All-Star caliber performances, Cy Young campaigns, and legitimate World Series aspirations, the parallels are impossible to ignore.
Let’s take a closer look at how these dynamic duos - and their teams behind them - stack up across eras.
🔥pitching tandems: dominance in different decades
1968 - Denny McLain & Mickey Lolich
The Tigers’ success in 1968 started on the mound, with McLain and Lolich anchoring the rotation.
Denny McLain (Pre-All-Star Break):
21 Games | 18-2 Record
172.0 IP | 2.09 ERA | 142 K | 23 BB
Named All-Star, Cy Young Winner, and MVP
Mickey Lolich (Pre-All-Star Break):
19 Games | 7-4 Record
122.1 IP | 2.94 ERA | 96 K | 28 BB
All-Star caliber pitcher - overshadowed early, but legendary in October
2025 - Tarik Skubal & Casey Mize
Fast forward to today, and you’ve got two homegrown aces making their mark
Tarik Skubal:
19 Games | 10-3 Record
121.0 IP | 2.23 ERA | 153 K | 16 BB
All-Star, current AL Cy Young front-runner, 3rd best AL MVP odds
Casey Mize:
16 Games | 9-3 Record
888.2 IP | 3.15 ERA | 77 K | 22 BB
All-Star, likely to receive Cy Young votes
📊team performance: 1968 vs. 2025 (pre-all-star break)
While the 1968 Tigers played in a pitching-dominated era, the 2025 Tigers are lighting up the scoreboard with one of the most efficient offenses in baseball. The key difference? Run support - Skubal and Mize are backed by a deeper, more balanced lineup.
📈full season outlook: then & now
The 1968 Tigers closed the deal with a gritty World Series win over the Cardinals, thanks in large part to Lolich’s historic Fall Classic performance. The 2025 Tigers, meanwhile, are tracking toward a potential postseason showdown with the powerhouse Dodgers - but they’re very much in the hunt, with the second-highest World Series odds.
🏆will history repeat itself?
Detroit fans know greatness when they see it. In 1968, they witnessed one of the most iconic seasons in franchise history. Now, in 2025, the city is buzzing again. The combination of elite starting pitching, an explosive offense, and legitimate October aspirations has drawn comparisons for good reason.
Can Skubal and Mize etch their names alongside McLain and Lolich in Tigers lore? Only time will tell. But one thing is clear - this season has the makings of something special.
Drop your thoughts below: How do you think Skubal & Mize compare to McLain & Lolich? Can the 2025 squad finish what the ‘68 team started?