Detroit Tigers need to add starting pitching in the offseason

Lack of depth

Buck Farmer has looked dependable in three starts (18.2 innings combined, 19 strikeouts 13 hits, four walks and one home run) and dreadful in two others (4.2 innings combined, six strikeouts, 14 hits, 13 runs and five home runs).

If he can consistently provide innings that somewhat resemble his three strong starts, Detroit will obviously benefit.

If not, well that’s another story.

Outside of Farmer, Detroit’s top starting pitching options include Warwick Saupold, Drew VerHagen and Chad Bell.

Saupold has found success in a relief role, and given the state of the Tigers’ bullpen, the hurler could stay there.

Meanwhile, VerHagen logged a 4.68 xFIP in 97.1 innings for Toledo this season, and has gotten shelled to the tune of a 7.36 ERA and a 7.11 FIP in 18.1 innings in the Majors.

Rounding out the list is Bell, who has also hemorrhaged runs in his time in Detroit. The southpaw has thrown 42.2 innings in 19 relief outings, pitching to a 5.48 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP.

Prospects

In the future, top prospect Beau Burrows should be able to pitch in (pun fully intended).

Burrows is currently at Double-A Erie and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the Majors in the second half of the 2018 season if he performers well in the minors.

That being said, even if Burrows debuts in 2018, the Detroit Tigers probably shouldn’t lean on him too hard given his high ceiling.

Outside of Burrows, 25-year-olds Artie Lewicki and Myles Jaye, there isn’t too much coming in terms of prospect help next season.

Tyler Alexander could be in the Majors in the next few seasons, but he currently has a 5.08 ERA in Erie.