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Detroit Tigers: Now more than ever, team needs starting pitching depth

By Ben Rosener |
May 3, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus (7) takes the ball to relieve starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (48) in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus (7) takes the ball to relieve starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (48) in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
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May 31, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (48) pitches against the Kansas City Royals in the first innings at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
May 31, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (48) pitches against the Kansas City Royals in the first innings at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Tigers fans haven’t seen too much starting pitching depth this season. Now, with Matthew Boyd in the minors, the team could use another arm.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Matthew Boyd was sent to Triple-A Toledo on Friday.

The starter had made 11 starts on the year for Detroit, logging a 0.5 WAR, a 14.4 strikeout percentage and a 4.65 FIP in 55.1 innings.

He also notched a 5.69 ERA, a 5.01 xFIP and a 1.771 WHIP on the year.

All told, Boyd punched out 6.0 batters and allowed 3.9 walks per nine innings.

The Washington native performed well to begin the year, with a 3.89 ERA and 29 strikeouts through his first seven starts (39.1 frames).

However, he struggled soon after. In Boyd’s last four outings, he allowed 36 hits, 18 runs, five walks and three home runs in just 16 innings.

That spits out to a 10.13 ERA.

Detroit announced the move in a tweet Friday night on the team’s official Twitter account, tweeting:

“Following tonight’s game, the #Tigers optioned LHP Matthew Boyd to Toledo (AAA). LHP Daniel Stumpf will be recalled from Toledo tomorrow.”

A reliever, Daniel Stumpf won’t be taking Boyd’s turn in the rotation. That spot next comes up again on Wednesday, June 7, so Detroit has some time to figure things out.

Moving forward, it will certainly be interesting to see how the team replaces Boyd, but one thing is for certain, the Tigers need starting pitching depth now more than ever.

Mar 16, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Buck Farmer (45) against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. The Tigers won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Buck Farmer (45) against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. The Tigers won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Internal options

Even with Boyd in the Major League rotation, there was an argument to be made for more reinforcements where starters were concerned.

Now, with Boyd in Toledo, the need grows even more so.

Warwick Saupold and Chad Bell could both be fits, but both have looked strong coming out of the bullpen.

Saupold hasn’t allowed a run in his last 6.1 frames, and has only given up three on the season. All three runs came on a trio of solo shots in mop-up duty against the Rays.

Elsewhere, William Cuevas, who was starting games with Triple-A Toledo, is now on the free agent market after electing free agency following the team designating him for assignment.

Speaking of Triple-A Toledo, the Anibal Sanchez experience hasn’t exactly turned things around at the minors’ highest level.

In 10.2 innings, Sanchez has struck out 13 batters, but he’s also been tagged for 13 hits, seven earned runs, four walks and three home runs.

Buck Farmer, who struck out 11 in 6.1 shutout innings in his first start of 2017 with the Tigers, seems like the most logic al choice to fill in for Boyd.

However, even if Farmer is called up and finds success, more depth is needed.

In addition to Sanchez, Toledo has used the likes of Drew VerHagen (4.89 ERA, 1.530 WHIP) and Anthony Vasquez (6.28 ERA, 1.500 WHIP) in starting roles.

Mar 10, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Mike Bolsinger (49) throws a pitch during the seventh inning of an MLB spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Mike Bolsinger (49) throws a pitch during the seventh inning of an MLB spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

External options

Luckily, as the season progresses, useful players will be hitting the waiver wire as teams make roster moves.

Daniel Wright was designated for assignment by the Angels recently, and started nine games in the past two years for Anaheim on Cincinnati.

His career numbers won’t overwhelm (5.84 ERA in 57 Major League innings, 4.65 ERA in 475.2 minor league innings). However, he does have some experience.

Another pitcher who was recently designated for assignment who could be a better fit is Mike Bolsinger.

A 29-year-old with 215 career frames of Major League work, Bolsinger has made 11 starts in the past two years for Toronto and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Most of his career success came in the 2015 campaign with the Dodgers. During that year, the right-hander broke out with a 1.1 WAR, a 3.62 ERA, a 3.91 FIP and a 3.82 xFIP in 109.1 innings (21 starts) for Los Angeles.

He also struck out 8.07 batters per nine innings while logging a 1.363 WHIP.

Next: Alex Avila should be an All-Star in 2017

Whether it be Wright, Bolsinger or someone else, the Detroit Tigers need more rotation depth. In a perfect world, whoever they find will come in and post numbers similar to Bolsinger’s during the 2015 season.

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