Detroit Tigers: Predicting the Starting Rotation

Mar 2, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws a pitch during the third inning of a MLB spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws a pitch during the third inning of a MLB spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Tigers
Sep 12, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Daniel Norris (44) walks off the field against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Daniel Norris
Age: 23
Throws: Left-Handed
Years of Major League Experience: Parts of Three Seasons
2016 Stat of Note: 10.5 Swinging Strike Percentage

In just 13 starts last season, Daniel Norris established himself as a key member of the Detroit Tigers rotation for both the present and the future.

The former Toronto Blue Jays farmhand finished fifth on Detroit’s pitching staff in WAR with a 1.1 numbers despite logging just 69.1 innings of work.

Over the course of said innings, the left-hander notched a 3.38 ERA, a 3.93 FIP and a 3.94 SIERA.

Norris also missed bats with 9.22 strikeouts per nine frames and a 10.5 swinging strike percentage. In terms of Detroit starters, only Justin Verlander posted better numbers.

Pitch and innings counts could still be in play, but it will be interesting to see what Norris can do with a full season’s worth of work.

The pitcher has started 21 games for Detroit split across two seasons. Overall, he’s thrown just 136 frames in parts of three seasons in the Majors.

If he can continue to keep his ERA in the low 3.00s and miss bats, the Detroit Tigers will be a force to be reckoned with where starting pitching is concerned.