Detroit Tigers: As it stands, Ryan Carpenter should be front runner for fifth rotation spot

One of the PCL’s best

In terms of run-prevention stats, the starter logged a 4.15 ERA, a 4.22 FIP and a 3.92 xFIP.

While those numbers don’t jump off the page, it’s also worth noting that the former Colorado farmhand finished seventh among all Pacific Coast League pitchers, who threw at least 100, innings in ERA.

He also checked in at third in FIP and second in xFIP.

He’s also should be the front runner to be the Detroit Tigers’ fifth starting pitcher.

The competition

Ryan Carpenter hasn’t appeared in a Major League game, he’s still seems like a superior option to the Tigers other options for the final spot in the rotation.

Barring any offseason movement in the rotation, Michael Fulmer, Matthew Boyd, Jordan Zimmermann and Daniel Norris will slot in as Detroit’s first four starters.

At this point if the quartet are on the roster come Spring Training, they’ll be lining up in the rotation—that much is set in stone.

The lack of a fifth candidate set in stone opens the door for Carpenter.

In addition to the ex-Rays and Rockies prospect, the Tigers could turn to fellow starters Buck Farmer, Chad Bell, Artie Lewicki or perhaps Warwick Saupold.

The rest

Of the bunch, Farmer showed the most promising flashes of brilliance, but he also struggled mightily at times.

Shutout outings against the White Sox and Angels that netted a combined 16 strikeouts against a cumulative six hits and three walks allowed were offset by outings against the A’s (2.2 innings pitched, six hits, five runs, four earned runs and a home run allowed), Diamondbacks (2.1 innings pitched, nine hits, six earned runs and two home runs allowed) and Rays (2.1 innings pitched, five hits, seven earned runs, three home runs and a walk allowed) that left plenty to be desired.

Elsewhere, Bell made four starts down the stretch. However, he was tagged for 5.28 walks and 2.35 home runs per nine innings during that span.

There was also Lewicki, who made just one start late in 2017 before being limited to a trio of relief outings despite the lack of stability in the rotation.

Rounding out the group is Saupold who soaked up 62.2 frames in 45 innings for the Tigers as a reliever last season.

While his FIP and xFIP both hovered in the mid fives at 5.39 and 5.57 respectively, the right-hander was effective in 40.1 innings spread across seven starts for Triple-A Toledo in 2017.

During that span, he worked to a 2.90 ERA, a 3.68 FIP, a 4.23 xFIP and 7.36 strikeouts per nine frames. However, he also walked 3.79 batters per nine innings.

The prospects

It’s possible that by the end of the 2018 season, prospects like Franklin Perez, Grayson Long, Spencer Turnbull, Matt Hall, Tyler Alexander or Beau Burrows could be in the Majors and ready to step into the rotation.

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However, until then, Ryan Carpenter looks like the best bet to step into the Detroit Tigers rotation and start games on a consistent basis.