Detroit Tigers: Four Players Who’ve Carried Team So Far

Detroit Tigers players have had trouble sustaining success as a team so far this season. The streaky Tigers have been carried by a few players’ performances.

Detroit Tigers fans haven’t been thrilled with the start of the season. The team has been streaky at best, looking good for stretches, and then slumping for a handful of games.

To start the year, Brad Ausmus’ team won six of eight games. Following that stretch, which included series wins over the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins, the Tigers lost six of nine against Houston, Kansas City and Cleveland.

Despite the losses, the team rebounded and won six of seven against the Athletics and Twins.

That brings us to the most recent grouping of games, which saw Ausmus’ club swept by both Cleveland and Texas.

One reason for the streakiness is that Detroit is having a hard time putting it all together. The Tigers’ offense has looked fantastic at times, and dreadful at others. In terms of pitching, Jordan Zimmermann has been the only constant. Justin Verlander and Michael Fulmer have shown well in limited starts, but other than that it has been a struggle.

The bullpen has been solid, but the team has been unable to fire on all cylinders on a consistent basis. So far, the team has been carried by a few players off to strong starts. Here are four of those players.

Nick Castellanos

It is a little hard to believe that Nick Castellanos has already played in parts of four different seasons. The third baseman had a brief, 11-game debut in 2013 before becoming a regular in 2014 and 2015.

At just 24-years-old, Castellanos is in the midst of a breakout season.

He was clearly a solid player in 2014 and 2015—Castellanos averaged 70 RBI, 32 doubles, 13 home runs and five triples per year from 2014 to 2015— but the former first-round pick has taken things to a completely different level.

The calendar is approaching the middle of May, and the third baseman’s batting average is still a robust .375. Not only does that the lead the Tigers, it leads the entire league. In addition, Castellanos has smacked six doubles, a triple and five home runs to go along with his team-leading 24 RBI.

It would seem that hitting behind the likes of Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez, Victor Martinez and Justin Upton has its advantages.

Something else that has its advantages is jumping on first-pitch fastballs. Castellanos is hitting .647 with a double, three home runs and 11 RBI in 18 plate appearances when swinging at the first pitch. His OPS in those instances? 1.846.

Jordan Zimmermann

We interrupt this hitting program to bring you an impact pitcher. Yes, an actual pitcher.

Jordan Zimmermann has been everything the Detroit Tigers have wanted and more. In six starts this season, the former National has consistently flashed ace stuff, going 5-1 with a 1.10 ERA in 41 innings pitched.

Many will remember the pitcher’s scoreless innings streak for a long time. Zimmermann racked up 24.1 scoreless innings to start his career with the Tigers, and wasn’t charged with a loss until last Friday.

The Tigers are clearly glad they inked the starter in the offseason, as he’s been key so far. In addition to pitching at a high level, Zimmermann has also ended losing streaks. He snapped a two-game slide in Kansas City with a victory on April 20^th, and followed that up by beating the A’s on the 25^th to prevent a four-game losing streak from turning into a five-game losing streak.

It is unlikely that Zimmermann will maintain a 1.10 ERA (which leads the league) throughout the season, but don’t expect him to stop pitching like an ace anytime soon. Should the Tigers qualify for the postseason, there isn’t a doubt who would pitch Game One.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Like Zimmermann, Saltalamacchia signed with the Tigers in the offseason. Also like Zimmermann, he’s made a significant impact.

Originally viewed as a slugging alternative to James McCann, Salty stepped into the starting lineup when McCann went down injured.

The former Diamondback was excellent as a fill in, and looks to have carved out a role with the team—even with McCann healthy again.

In just 70 at-bats, Saltalamacchia leads the team with six home runs. He’s also added 17 RBI, which is bested only by Nick Castellanos and Victor Martinez. What’s more, the backstop has added four doubles and a triple.

His .214 batting average isn’t anything to write home about, but there’s no denying that Salty has been clutch.

So far this season, the slugger is hitting .313 with a double, a pair of home runs and 10 RBI with two outs and runners in scoring position. He’s also putting up a robust .429/.500/1.500 slash line (albeit in a small sample size) when the game is tied.

With his ability to hit for legitimate power, Salty has extended an already dangerous Detroit lineup.

Next: Now is Not the Time to Fire Brad Ausmus

Usually hitting towards the bottom of the lineup, the slugger brings more power than the likes of Jose Iglesias, Anthony Gose, McCann and Tyler Collins. This provides opposing pitchers with yet another challenge after facing the likes of Cabrera, Martinez, Castellanos and Justin Upton.