Detroit Tigers: Another Starting Pitcher Needed?

Detroit Tigers starers had an up and down 2016 season. Justin Verlander was superb, while the young starters excelled. However, there were also struggles. Does Detroit need another starter?

Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus opened the 2016 season with a rotation consisting of Justin Verlander, Jordan Zimmermann, Anibal Sanchez, Mike Pelfrey and Shane Greene.

By the end of the season, things weren’t exactly the same.

After a stellar start, Zimmermann struggled with injuries and inconsistency. Meanwhile, Sanchez and Pelfrey combined for 22 losses on the campaign. Greene didn’t blow people away as a starter, but looked much better coming out of the bullpen.

All this led to the young trio of Michael Fulmer, Matt Boyd and Daniel Norris pitching significant innings. The season was Fulmer’s first in the big leagues. while Boyd and Norris notched respective career highs in innings pitched.

In the middle of a pennant chase, the Detroit Tigers were forced to lean on Fulmer, Boyd, Norris and Buck Farmer—four young pitchers who spent large portions of the season at Triple-A.

The crazy thing is that it almost worked. The Tigers nearly made it to October relying heavily on a starting staff comprised mainly of rookies in Fulmer, Boyd and Norris. Fellow young pitcher Farmer also made a spot start down the stretch.

Does Detroit need another starting pitcher?