Detroit Tigers: Projecting 2017 Opening Day Lineup

Detroit Tigers players have already started to report to Spring Training. With Opening Day now on the horizon, here’s a look at what Detroit’s lineup will look like for the first game of the season.

Detroit Tigers fans will see the team open the season Monday, April 3^rd in Chicago against the White Sox.

Before then, there are a few key decisions to be made.

Detroit will have to settle on a new starting center fielder, or at least some kind of solution in the middle of the outfield grass.

With Cameron Maybin having been dealt to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, one of Tyler Collins, Mikie Mahtook or JaCoby Jones will be tasked with replacing the veteran.

Elsewhere, a new bench unit will have to be selected.

Andrew Romine seems like a lock to make the team in his usual role as super-sub. Alex Avila is another player probably assured to make the team.

Detroit’s only Major League free agent signing during the offseason, the backstop is expected to back up James McCann with the Tigers.

Other than the duo, and probably one of the players who doesn’t make it as the starting center fielder, there isn’t another surefire pick.

The Tigers have plenty of options in camp, from Omar Infante to Dixon Machado and Steven Moya to Alex Presley.

While there is still uncertainty on the bench, one player who will be playing on Opening Day is Justin Verlander.

The ace was tabbed as Detroit’s number one starter earlier in the offseason.

Here’s a look at the lineup that could play behind Verlander on April 3^rd against the White Sox.

Catcher: James McCann
Age: 26
2016 Stat of Note: 7 rSB

One of a number of easy choices, James McCann enters 2017 as the Detroit Tigers starting catcher.

The 26-year-old spent 2016 in the same role and flourished from a defensive standpoint.

McCann led all Major League catchers in rSB and finished third with a DRS of nine.

What’s more, the former second-round pick threw out 45% of would-be base stealers.

An offensive breakout, or at least improvement could be coming for the catcher.

Last season, McCann posted career highs in ISO (.137), home runs (12), RBI (48) and walk percentage (6.2%) despite a .283 BABIP and 52 less plate appearances.

In 2016, McCann was one of eight different Tigers, and one of seven starters, to reach double-digit home runs last year.

Expect a repeat performance from the player after turning in improved power numbers during the previous campaign.

There’s potential for the backstop to get off to a solid start at the plate in 2017 against Chicago.

Of all the Major League franchises, McCann only has more hits, runs scored, home runs and against the Minnesota Twins.

What’s more, McCann has favorable career numbers against members of the White Sox’ rotation.

Detroit’s catcher has collected a walk, pair of hits—including a home run—and two RBI against Carlos Rodon.

Versus James Shields, McCann has collected two RBI in just three plate appearances.

The sample sizes are admittedly small, but it bodes well for James McCann’s offensive production early in the season.

First Base: Miguel Cabrera
Age: 33
2016 Stat of Note: 152 wRC+

Perhaps the easiest pick of all, Miguel Cabrera looks set for another standout season at the plate.

The future Hall of Famer enjoyed a stellar 2016, leading the Detroit Tigers with a 152 wRC+. Cabrera also paced the team in home runs (38), RBI (108), ISO (.247), on-base percentage (.393) and wOBA (.399).

What’s more, Cabrera finished sixth in all of baseball in wRC+, ninth in batting average, 10^th in on-base percentage, 11^th in home runs and 19^th in ISO.

So in other words, Miggy isn’t slowing down any time soon.

Expect another superb season from the first baseman, who has done nothing but produce in his time in Detroit.

Cabrera has won a pair of MVPs, a Triple Crown and made seven All-Star Games with the Tigers. He’s also taken home five Silver Sluggers while wearing the Old English D.

Additionally, the veteran has led the league in nearly every statistical category as a Tiger.

These have included games played, doubles, home runs, RBI, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+, total bases, intentional walks and sacrifice flies.

Cabrera will once again anchor Detroit’s lineup heading into 2017.

Second Base: Ian Kinsler
Age: 34
2016 Stat of Note: 5.8 WAR

Similar to Cabrera, Ian Kinsler continues to produce at an elite level despite approaching his mid-30s.

The second baseman led all Detroit players, Justin Verlander and Cabrera included, in WAR with a 5.8 number. That WAR was good for the 14^th-best in the league among position players.

Kinsler stuffed the stat sheet in what was arguably his best offensive season.

In 153 games, the veteran hit .288 with a .348 on-base percentage, an .831 OPS, a .196 ISO and a wRC+ of 123.

He also chipped in with 178 hits, 117 runs scored, 83 RBI, 29 doubles, 28 home runs, 14 stolen bases and four triples. Kinsler also won his first Gold Glove last year.

The start of the 2017 season could bring more offensive production from the second baseman.

He’s hit more home runs (five) against James Shields than any other pitcher.

What’s more, Kinsler has also gone deep against Jose Quintana and Carlos Rodon.

All told, the veteran is two-for-six against Rodon with three RBI and a pair of hits.

His sample size against Quintana is slightly larger. Over the span of 47 plate appearances, Kinsler is a .304 hitter with 14 runs scored, three RBI and two doubles versus Chicago’s ace.

Third Base: Nick Castellanos
Age: 24
2016 Stat of Note: 119 wRC+

Despite not playing a full season’s worth of contests, Nick Castellanos improved significantly at the plate in 2016.

He set new career highs in batting average (.285), on-base percentage (.331), slugging percentage (.496), OPS (.827), home runs (18), and ISO (.212).

Castellanos did all this while seeing action in just 110 games for the Detroit Tigers.

Additionally, for the first time in his career, the former first-round pick logged a wRC+ north of 100, checking in with a 119 number in the category.

Overall, Castellanos’ WAR jumped from -0.1 in 2015 to 1.9 in 2016.

What’s more, the 24-year-old steadily improved in the field. Since entering the Majors, he’s lowered his UZR in each season.

After putting up a -18.4 number in the category in 2014, Castellanos posted a -6.8 UZR last season.

That number won’t win him a Gold Glove, but the continued improvement is encouraging moving forward.

Should Castellanos continue to make strides in the field, the sky is the limit for the 24-year-old.

Look for the third baseman to put together a full breakout season in 2017 as he hits behind the likes of Ian Kinsler, Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez, Victor Martinez and Justin Upton.

Left Field: Justin Upton
Age: 29
2016 Stat of Note: 18 home runs in his last 38 games

By now, you’ve probably heard all about Justin Upton’s up-and-down 2016 campaign.

In his first season in Detroit, the outfielder hit just .226 with a .652 OPS, 13 home runs and 46 RBI in his first 115 games.

However, over the course of the final 38 contests of the season, Upton proceeded to obliterate pitches.

The former first-overall pick showed why he was worth such a large contract down the stretch, with 18 home runs and 41 RBI down the stretch.

He also hit .309 with a 1.162 OPS, keeping the Detroit Tigers in the Wild Card hunt.

Similar to Iglesias, Upton could move up the order and hit second with Cameron Maybin wearing an Angels uniform.

Time will tell just where Upton hits in the lineup, but he probably won’t go through a prolonged cold streak like he did at the beginning of 2016 again.

The first series of 2017 should benefit Upton, who batted .304 with a .913 OPS against the White Sox last season.

In 18 games against Chicago, the left fielder collected 21 hits, 16 RBI, 10 runs scored, four home runs, two doubles, a triple and a stolen base.

Those numbers included 10 games at US Cellular Field, where Upton accounted for three home runs and 12 RBI in 10 games.

Center Field: Mikie Mahtook
Age: 27
2016 Stat of Note: .287 BABIP

Mikie Mahtook’s 2016 wasn’t his best, and some of his numbers were likely impacted by a low BABIP.

Still, there’s no denying the potential the former Ray flashed in 2015 with the American League East ball club.

In 41 games with the Rays, Mahtook hit .295 with a .351 on-base percentage, a .619 slugging percentage and a .970 OPS.

He also added 22 runs scored, 19 RBI, nine home runs, five doubles, four stolen bases and a triple in 41 games.

If Mahtook can produce even somewhere close to those, he’ll have a role with the 2017 Detroit Tigers.

Mahtook should get the call over Tyler Collins and JaCoby Jones due to his all-around game.

Collins would bring some excellent pop to the position, while Jones’ upside makes him a key part of Detroit’s future.

However, Collins’ defensive work in center field left much to be desired from a statistical standpoint.

The outfielder turned in a DRS of -4, a -1.8 UZR and a -11.4 UZR/150.

By comparison, Mahtook logged a DRS of 2, a 1.3 UZR and a 10.5 UZR/150 last season in center field for Tampa Bay.

Elsewhere, Jones may need more time to develop before he’s ready to start in the Majors.

Mahtook on the other hand, has spent parts of the last two seasons as part of Tampa Bay’s outfield mix.

Right Field: J.D. Martinez
Age: 29
2016 Stat of Note: .228 ISO

J.D. Martinez has had some excellent seasons with the Detroit Tigers since joining the organization in 2014.

The 2016 campaign was no different for Martinez, who hit .307 with a .908 OPS in 120 games.

Despite seeing his season shortened by injury, the outfielder slugged .535 while also posting a .228 ISO and a 142 wRC+.

Martinez also added 141 hits, 69 runs scored, 68 RBI, 22 home runs and a pair of triples in 460 at-bats.

Even with fewer games played, the veteran still managed to set a new career high with 35 doubles.

Likely to hit in the middle of an order that also includes Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Justin Upton and Nick Castellanos, expect J.D. Martinez to turn in another standout offensive campaign.

That campaign should get off to a promising start as the Tigers could face Jose Quintana and James Shields in Chicago.

Martinez is a .321 lifetime hitter against Quintana.

The outfielder has been even more impressive against James Shields, with a .417 batting average against the former Padre.

Overall, Martinez hit .469 with a .542 on-base percentage, an .867 slugging percentage and a 1.400 OPS against the White Sox last season.

Designated Hitter: Victor Martinez
Age: 38
2016 Stat of Note: .289 Batting Average

It is probably safe to say that Victor Martinez didn’t have the best season of his career in 2015.

The designated hitter logged a 78 wRC+, a .286 wOBA and a .245 batting average en route to posting a -2.0 WAR.

That’s why it was so encouraging to see Martinez bounce back the way he did in 2016.

While the designated hitter didn’t return to the heights he reached in 2014, when he finished as runner-up to Mike Trout in the MVP voting, he did enjoy a solid season.

Over the span of 154 games, the veteran drove in 86 runs while scoring 65 times. He also drew 50 walks while only striking out 90 times.

In the power department, Martinez mashed 27 home runs and 22 doubles while ranking sixth among Detroit starters with a .186 ISO.

What’s more, the player’s wOBA rose to .351.

While Martinez won’t get to see Chris Sale (who he’s 20-for-53 against with a 1.242 OPS) in the opening series since the ace was dealt to Boston, Detroit’s designated hitter should face some favorable matchups early.

Next: American League Central Offseason Review

The 38-year-old is a .303 career hitter in 56 plate appearances against James Shields. In 39 trips to the plate versus Jose Quintana, Martinez is hitting a robust .436 with a .923 OPS.