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Detroit Tigers: Candidates to slot in as second starting pitcher after Michael Fulmer

By Ben Rosener

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 17: Pitcher Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers, center, is visited by shortstop Dixon Machado #49 of the Detroit Tigers and catcher Bryan Holaday #50 of the Detroit Tigers after giving up a hit to Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox to end his no-hit bid in the ninth inning at Comerica Park on September 17, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the White Sox 12-0. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 17: Pitcher Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers, center, is visited by shortstop Dixon Machado #49 of the Detroit Tigers and catcher Bryan Holaday #50 of the Detroit Tigers after giving up a hit to Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox to end his no-hit bid in the ninth inning at Comerica Park on September 17, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the White Sox 12-0. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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Detroit Tigers
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 11: Daniel Norris #44 of the Detroit Tigers delivers in the second inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 11, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Matthew Boyd

If this is based on 2017 performances alone, this spot should go to Matthew Boyd.

Boyd’s overall numbers (5.27 ERA, 1.56 WHIP in 135 innings) won’t jump off the page.

However, the left-hander ranked third on the team behind Fulmer and Justin Verlander in fWAR with a 1.9 number and was much improved down the stretch.

He logged a 3.92 FIP and 30 strikeouts in his final 36.2 innings, which spanned six starts and included a near-no hitter against the Twins.

Daniel Norris

If this is based on pure stuff alone, Norris should probably claim this slot in the rotation.

However, Norris has yet to put it all together in the Majors.

Armed with ace-like stuff, Norris has struggled to pitch late into games. He pitched into the seventh inning just twice last season and failed to put hitters away early.

The fellow southpaw also regressed from an encouraging 2016 (3.93 FIP, 3.94 SIERA and 9.22 strikeouts per nine frames in 69.1 innings) last season.

In 101.2 frames last season, Norris turned in a 4.39 FIP and a 4.94 SIERA. While his strikeouts per nine innings plummeted from 9.22 to 7.61, his swinging strike percentage didn’t dip as much, dropping from 10.5% to 9.1%.

If the ex-Blue Jay can pitch more efficiently while missing bats, he has a chance to be successful.

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