Detroit Tigers: Potential in-house Anibal Sanchez replacements

Grayson Long

We’ve reached the wild card portion of the article. In a perfect world, the Detroit Tigers would have a fifth starter locked in to allow Long to continue to develop in the minors.

Triple-A looks like a conceivable destination for the starter after he turned in a 2.52 ERA over the course of 121.2 frames for Anaheim’s Double-A affiliate in Mobile.

Still, some prospects need little time at the minors’ highest level while some skip Triple-A entirely.

Each prospect is different, but Detroit’s lack of established, Major League options makes this competition wide open.

If Long comes into Major League camp and pitches well enough to win the job, the Tigers should go with the 23-year-old in the rotation.

At worst, if he struggles early the team can send him to Triple-A and let him pitch at a level he seems likely to pitch at in 2018.

At best, Detroit has a potential long-term rotation piece who they can write down next to the likes of Fulmer, Boyd and Norris for the foreseeable future.

Tyler Alexander

Another Double-A starting pitcher, a first glance at the left-hander’s 2017 stat line doesn’t deliver much in terms of excitability with a 5.07 ERA.

However, Alexander did turn in a 4.02 FIP and a 3.51 xFIP in 138.1 innings in his second stint with Erie.

The 23-year-old also struck out 120 in 138.1 innings compared to just 23 walks.

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Similar to Long, if he shines in camp, Detroit should stick Alexander in the Major League rotation with a rotation spot waiting in Toledo if he struggles early.