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Detroit Tigers: With Michael Fulmer out for season, focus should shift to identifying future rotation fits

By Ben Rosener

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 18: Buck Farmer #45 of the Detroit Tigers warms up prior to the start of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 18, 2017 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. . (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 18: Buck Farmer #45 of the Detroit Tigers warms up prior to the start of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 18, 2017 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. . (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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Detroit Tigers
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 1: Michael Fulmer #32 of the Detroit Tigers watches their game against the Cleveland Indians from the bench during the third inning of game two of a doubleheader at Comerica Park on September 1, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers starting pitchers have seen some serious changes in the last few months. With Michael Fulmer on the shelf, Detroit needs to focus on finding starters for 2018.

Detroit Tigers fans will see a much different rotation down the stretch.

Longtime ace Justin Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros while current ace Michael Fulmer is out for the rest of the season due to injury.

Additionally, Daniel Norris is working out of the bullpen to close 2017 after missing most of July and all of August due to injury.

Jordan Zimmermann is dealing with an injury of his own. Whether he returns to the mound this year remains to be seen.

That leaves Matthew Boyd as the only holdover.

Boyd (5.09 xFIP, 1.692 WHIP) has been far from perfect in 109.1 innings this season. However, he gives the team a known quantities in a rotation in need of answers heading into 2018.

Outside of the ex-Toronto farmhand, Detroit has utilized Buck Farmer, Myles Jaye, Artie Lewicki and Chad Bell as starting options.

Anibal Sanchez

Anibal Sanchez is still around as well, but at this point, the Detroit Tigers need to be giving the likes of Farmer, Jaye and Lewicki an extended audition down the stretch for 2018.

Sanchez simply hasn’t been the answer.

Outside of a brief four-game stretch (22 strikeouts and eight runs allowed in 23.1 innings) where his butterfly changeup was on full effect, the veteran has struggled mightily.

His ERA sits at 7.43, and his FIP isn’t much better at 6.27. The veteran also has a 1.676 WHIP in 82.1 innings.

Those numbers simply aren’t going to cut it.

According to Spotrac, Sanchez has a $16 million option on his contract for next season. He can be bought out for $5 million.

Detroit should move Sanchez to the bullpen for the rest of the year and simply buy him out in the offseason.

A rebuilding team and a 33-year-old with a FIP north of six aren’t exactly a hand-in-glove fit.

As difficult as it might be initially, the Tigers should be handing starts to the team’s younger starters.

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