Detroit Tigers: Is It Time to Switch Up the Batting Order?

If there is anything consistent about the Detroit Tigers, it is the hitting. The hot players continue to be hot and the rest, well…not so much.

Does Brad Ausmus keep the good things going or make a change to get the sleepy bats to wake up?

Of course, April is a strange month and many hitters are just getting warmed up for the rest of the year. But, if something isn’t working, is it better to stick with it or make changes?

I’d like to offer a suggestion for switching up a few things in the line up:

Ian Kinsler: He is a solid lead-off batter and his stats prove it. He is currently batting .340 with a .958 OPS. He has hit four home runs. There is no reason to move him to any other spot. No point changing what is working.

Miguel Cabrera

: He isn’t hitting like he used to and it is becoming troublesome. He has one of the lowest batting averages of the everyday players, which is not typical for the Big Man. Miggy needs something to change and shifting him to second in the lineup could be just enough to get his bat going again. It would be unexpected to the big hitter to hit second and he might even be able to get a few more at-bats, which will come in handy when he’s hot again. Sometimes, all it takes is a subtle move to make a big difference.

Apr 17, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (39) hits a single during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Nick Castellanos: While his defensive work could still use some help, his offense is impressive. His .357 batting average and .920 OPS is worthy of a shift up from the five hole. It seems like everything he hits is for power and despite his preference for first pitches, the pitchers continue to throw strikes to him.

J.D. Martinez: He is leading the team in batting average with .372 and an OPS of 1.010. He just knows how to get on base. He has 16 hits, which is one less than Kinsler’s number of hits. He just makes it look so easy right now.

Victor Martinez: Why not protect Martinez with a Martinez? Swapping the two power hitters will ensure that they will get the pitches they need. Even if one gets out, the other might get on.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

: Put him in after Victor. Why? His RBIs. His home runs.

If there is anything consistent about the Detroit Tigers, it is the hitting. The hot players continue to be hot and the rest, well…not so much.

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