Detroit Tigers: Statistical leaders from the first half of 2017 season

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MIAMI, FL – JULY 10: Michael Fulmer #32 of the Detroit Tigers and the American League and Justin Upton #8 of the Detroit Tigers and the American League look on during Gatorade All-Star Workout Day ahead of the 88th MLB All-Star Game at Marlins Park on July 10, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers baseball returns on Friday. The team is back from the All-Star break after an up-and-down first half. Here are the team’s statistical leaders so far.

Detroit Tigers fans didn’t see the best first half of baseball in 2017.

The team stumbled to a 39-48 record. While there were some encouraging stretches, there were also some—how shall we say—not so encouraging stretches.

Detroit’s eight-game losing streak certainly didn’t help matters in the standings, but there have been some positives to help counterbalance the negatives.

Alex Avila, originally signed to compliment James McCann at the dish, is vastly out-producing his fellow backstop–not to mention most of the league.

In 227 plate appearances predominantly against right-handers, Avila is sporting a .958 OPS, a 156 wRC+ and a .235 ISO.

Elsewhere, Justin Upton (2.3 WAR, .227 ISO, .357 wOBA) is looking more like the batter who obliterated baseballs on a consistent basis down the stretch in 2016 than the one who notched a .578 OPS in his through June of last season.

Moving to the pitching side of things, Michael Fulmer looks to be making the ascent from rookie phenom to a standing place among the league’s elite rather quickly.

Armed with his power arsenal, Fulmer has accumulated a 3.1 WAR and 15—count ‘em 15—quality starts. He’s also allowed the fewest home runs per nine innings in the league, with just 0.54 allowed per nine frames.

The Tigers have also seemed to figure things out at the very back end of the bullpen, where Justin Wilson and Shane Greene provide manager Brad Ausmus with a source of quality innings and dynamic stuff.

Wilson currently paces all Detroit pitchers in strikeout percentage with a 36.6 number. He also leads all Detroit relievers in WAR (0.8), FIP (2.94) and xFIP (3.25).

Here’s a look at the Detroit Tigers other statistical leaders.

DETROIT, MI – JUNE 06: Alex Avila #31 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates his solo home run in the sixth inning with teammates in the dugout during a MLB game against the Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park on June 6, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. The Angels defeated the Tigers 5-3. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

Batting stats

ISO

Unsurprisingly, Detroit has a number of players with strong ISO numbers this season. Five different Tigers posted a ISO clip above .200 in the first half, including Avila, Upton, James McCann and John Hicks in limited playing time.

However, the Tigers leader in the category is J.D. Martinez, who owns a .310 number in the category.

DRS

With DRS, or defensive runs saved, you’d probably expect a defensive-minded player like McCann or Jose Iglesias to lead the way.

While both players have strong numbers at catcher and shortstop respectively, Justin Upton currently paces Detroit in defensive runs saved, with 11 in left field.

wRC+

Moving back to the plate, Alex Avila’s 156 wRC+ currently paces the team. In fact, of players with at least 220 plate appearances, only nine players have a higher wRC+ in the league.

You’ve probably heard of most all of the nine. They include, in no particular order, Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Joey Votto, George Springer, Justin Turner, Marwin Gonzalez and Jose Ramirez.

wOBA

Avila once again tops Detroit’s leaderboard with a .407 wOBA, although J.D. Martinez is right on his heels with a .405 number. Once again, only nine players have a higher number among those with at least 220 plate appearances.

It’s the same group as before, expect with Paul Goldschmidt taking Gonzalez’ place.

DETROIT, MI – JUNE 17: Starting pitcher Michael Fulmer #32 of the Detroit Tigers throws in the second inning during a MLB game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park on June 17, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

Pitching stats

Switching to the mound, Michael Fulmer leads the way in a number of pitching metrics.

These include WAR (3.1), ground ball percentage (49.3%), home runs allowed per nine innings (0.54) and innings pitched (115.2) and walk percentage (5.6%).

He also leads all starters in FIP with a 3.26 number, but reliever Justin Wilson has him beat with a 2.94 stat.

Technically speaking, Buck Farmer has a lower walk rate, while Kyle Ryan owns a higher ground-ball percentage than Fulmer.

However, Farmer and Ryan have combined to toss 23.1 frames this year, taking them out of consideration.

In terms of strikeouts, Wilson has punched out the most per nine innings with a 12.84 clip. Justin Verlander leads all full-time starters with 8.43 punch outs per nine frames.

Continuing with the swing-and-miss metrics, Justin Wilson again paces the group with a 14.6 swinging strike percentage.

Surprisingly, Verlander doesn’t lead all Detroit starters in swinging strike percentage. That would be Daniel Norris, who has a swinging strike percentage of 9.7 this season.

What is perhaps most encouraging about Detroit Tigers pitchers swinging strike percentage numbers this season is the fact that Joe Jimenez turned in a 13.8 percentage in limited exposure early in the season.

When he returns to the Majors, he’ll be a key component in the bullpen.

Next: Tigers top base runner in 2017 season may surprise you

Tigers baseball returns for the start of the second half on Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

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Detroit Tigers baseball returns on Friday. The team is back from the All-Star break after an up-and-down first half. Here are the team’s statistical leaders so far.

Batting stats

ISO

DRS

wRC+

wOBA

Pitching stats

Schedule