Detroit Tigers 2016 Review: Mark Lowe

Detroit Tigers reliever Mark Lowe struggled in his first season in the Motor City. Initially a late-inning option for Brad Ausmus, Lowe was eventually demoted to working in blowouts.

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila did a solid job in rebuilding the team’s bullpen.

Working mainly in the trade market, Avila acquired Justin Wilson and Francisco Rodriguez in deals that didn’t mortgage the future for the Tigers.

Part of the general manager’s strategy to rebuild the unit included signing reliever Mark Lowe.

The 33-year-old was coming off an excellent 2015 campaign split between Seattle and Toronto.

Starting the year in the Pacific Northwest, Lowe thrived pitching as one of then-manager Lloyd McClendon’s top setup relievers. The veteran posted a 1.00 ERA and a 1.88 FIP—not to mention 47 strikeouts—in just 36 innings pitched.

Following a mid-season trade to the Blue Jays, Lowe registered a 3.79 ERA and a 3.87 FIP in 19 innings pitched.

Avila and the Tigers inked the reliever in the offseason to a two-year deal. Per Spotrac, Lowe made $5.5 million last year and is slated to make the same amount during the 2018 season.

Here’s a recap of Lowe’s first season in a Tigers uniform. Additionally, will he return in 2017?

2016 Stats of Note

Lowe didn’t have the best 2016 season in Detroit.

His run prevention numbers ballooned across the board. His ERA (7.11), FIP (5.66), xFIP (4.76) and SIERA (4.07) all left much to be desired.

While the ex-Mariner’s SIERA number suggests he’s a better pitcher than his 7.11 ERA indicated, it is still too high of a number for a player Detroit is investing over $10 million in to pitch out of the bullpen.

The reliever was hit particularly hard by American League Central opposition. Cleveland collected six hits, four runs and three home runs off Lowe in six innings, while the White Sox totaled seven hits of their own, plus five earned runs, five walks and a pair of home runs in six frames.

Pitching against Kansas City was particularly unkind to Lowe. OF the 30 Royals the veteran faced in five innings, 15 reached base. In addition to being tagged for 12 hits and three walks, Lowe also allowed nine runs while only striking out one batter.

Comerica Park Numbers

Despite holding batters to a .232 batting average in 25.1 innings pitched at Comerica Park, Lowe still posted a 5.68 ERA at the stadium. This was mainly due to him handing out 10 free passes and allowing six home runs over the same span.