Detroit Tigers: Last Week’s 5 Heroes and Zeroes

Apr 19, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Shane Greene (61) pitches in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

#2 Hero: Shane Greene

Everyone has a bad day. For Shane Greene apparently a bad day is allowing one run after 22 scoreless innings to start his career as a Detroit Tiger.

He won his third straight to begin the year, and some in the ballpark felt J.D. Martinez should have been charged with an error thus negating that one earned run surrendered this season. Nonetheless, Greene is sporting a 0.39 ERA.

We have not seen the bullpen in many high-pressure situations this season other than some save situations from Joakim Soria. A lot of that has been due to solid efforts from the starters, particularly Greene who has quite unexpectedly gone deep into games. He nearly had a complete game in the Pirates’ series, but when Jose Iglesias stretched a single to a double, he was removed for a pinch hitter.

Stepping in the large shadows of Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello has not caused any problems for Greene thus far. Perhaps he is cool under pressure from the experience of starting for the New York Yankees as a rookie in the top sports media market last year.

With the poise and success he is showing early on, and the fact he is under team control until 2021, Shane Greene could quickly become a fan favorite in Detroit.

Next: Mr. 1-2-3