Detroit Tigers: Predicting the Starting Rotation

Matt Boyd
Age: 26
Throws: Left-Handed
Years of Major League Experience: Parts of Two Seasons
2016 Stat of Note: 2.56 ERA from July 9^th through September 6^th

The Detroit Tigers continue to reap the benefits of a highly successful 2015 trade deadline.

Not only did the club pick up Fulmer from the Mets for Cespedes, they also netted JaCoby Jones in a swap for Joakim Soria with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

While the trade involving Fulmer will rightfully steal all the headlines, Detroit’s deal with Toronto that sent David Price back to the American League East deserves praise as well.

The Tigers picked up Norris, Jairo Labourt—a potential power pitcher for the future in—and Matt Boyd

Boyd’s numbers from 2016 (4.75 FIP in 97.1 innings) may not show it at first, but he was just as important as either Fulmer or Norris.

The 26-year-old’s stats were partly inflated thanks to a handful of poor starts.

Boyd began the year with a 3.38 ERA in his first four outings, before being lit up to the tune of 15 hits, 13 runs, two walks and two home runs in a pair of starts against Chicago and Kansas City.

However, following those starts, the Washington native thrived, turning in a 2.56 ERA, a .232 batting average against and a .294 on-base percentage in 56.1 frames from July 9^th to September 6^th.

The lefty’s numbers to end the season (9.26 ERA in his final 11.2 innings) weren’t anything to write home about.

However, showed the upside to be an effective Major League starter for the long haul.

Next: Tigers Rookie of the Year Candidates

In this prediction piece, Boyd gets the nod over Mike Pelfrey and Anibal Sanchez, who both struggled mightily last season and haven’t been perfect this spring.