Detroit Tigers 2017 season: winners and losers so far

Detroit Tigers players have started the season on a positive note. The team is just one game back of Minnesota and Cleveland in the division race and is trending upward as May continues.

Detroit Tigers fans have seen the team get off to an encouraging start to the 2017 season. Despite a few rough patches, the team is in the thick of things in both the division and wild card races.

Entering Friday, the club was just one game back of both playoff spots in the standings.

What’s more, Thursday’s 7-1 blowout win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim firmly placed Detroit’s run differential on the upswing.

The result moved Detroit to -1 on the season. While that number doesn’t jump off the page, the Tigers were previously hovering in the negative teens.

Moving forward, it is certainly a good sign to see the run differential moving in the right direction.

All told, the Tigers are in pretty good shape. The team has been without J.D. Martinez up until Friday. Additionally, three Opening Day starters, Miguel Cabrera, Jose Iglesias and JaCoby Jones, spent time on the disabled list.

Taking all the injuries into account—not to mention inconsistent play from Francisco Rodriguez, Victor Martinez and Tyler Collins—the Detroit Tigers are in pretty good shape.

Here are the team’s winners and losers, as it were, so far in 2017.

The Bullpen’s Winners and Losers

Winner: Justin Wilson

Unfortunately, the Detroit Tigers have had more bullpen issues in 2017.

Much of this has had to do with a handful of struggling pitchers, including Francisco Rodriguez, Anibal Sanchez, Kyle Ryan and Bruce Rondon.

However, Justin Wilson has thrived for Detroit.

The left-hander began the year as Rodriguez’ setup man, but has stepped into the closer’s role with the veteran struggling.

Over the course of 16 appearances, Wilson owns some miniscule run-prevention numbers, with a 1.23 ERA, a 1.59 FIP and a 2.06 xFIP.

He’s also posted an excellent 43.4 strikeout percentage, 14.11 punch outs per nine innings and a 0.5 WAR. In fact, only Michael Fulmer and Justin Verlander have higher WAR stats on the entire pitching staff.

Loser: Francisco Rodriguez

While Justin Wilson has thrived, Francisco Rodriguez simply hasn’t.

The veteran closer does have seven saves in 14 appearances, but has also allowed hitters to reach base and score at an incredibly high rate.

In his 12.2 frames of work, Rodriguez has been tagged for 19 hits, 12 runs, five walks and four home runs.

So far in 2017, the pitcher has four losses on his record. That was the same number he had all of last season.

In fact, Rodriguez has only lost more than three games in a season in his career six times.

Winners and Losers on the Bench

The bullpen still remains somewhat of problem, but one area where the Detroit Tigers have significantly improved from last season is on the bench.

Gone are the likes of Erick Aybar, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Casey McGehee.

In their place, Detroit has turned to a different group, one that includes a combination of Andrew Romine, Alex Avila, Dixon Machado, Tyler Collins, John Hicks, Jim Adduci and Mikie Mahtook.

Winner: Jim Adduci

Heading into Opening Day 2017, the Tigers needed two new starting outfielders.

A center fielder was necessary to replace the traded Cameron Maybin in center field, while J.D. Martinez’ injury left a hole in right field.

To fill the two spots, Detroit utilized Jones, Romine, Mahtook and Collins to start.

Now, with the middle of May approaching, it isn’t that much of a stretch to say that Jim Adduci has been the best of the bunch.

The 32-year-old is currently fourth on the team in WAR and has posted a .888 OPS. He’s also turned in eight runs scored, seven RBI, five walks, four doubles, two triples and a stolen base in just 13 games.

Moving forward, Adduci could be a fixture on Detroit’s bench all season.

Loser: Mikie Mahtook

Acquired from Tampa Bay in the offseason, Mikie Mahtook had a chance to establish himself early in the season with opportunities in center field and in right field.

However, the former first-round pick hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire.

He’s posted a .578 OPS in 17 games, and has punched out 13 times in 38 at-bats.

Mahtook does have an option remaining, so he’s not a candidate to be designated for assignment, but the team needs better production.

Moving forward, the opportunities could be limited.

With Justin Upton and J.D. Martinez manning the corners, Mahtook’s potential at-bats will come in center field or as a pinch hitter.

In center, he’ll be competing with Romine and Collins—not to mention JaCoby Jones once he returns from the minors.

As a pinch hitter, the ex-Ray has likely fallen behind Avila and Collins in the pecking order.

Next: Jim Adduci could be bench fixture all season

When Adduci (currently on the disabled list) and Hicks (with Toledo) are back on the active roster, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see either pinch-hit ahead of Mahtook.