Detroit Tigers: Who should get the final bullpen spot?

With less than a week until the Detroit Tigers open up the 2018 season, two pitchers are battling for the final spot in the bullpen.

The Detroit Tigers saw quite a few pieces of last year’s bullpen depart this offseason. Gone is 2017 closer Justin Wilson, who was dealt at the trade deadline. Gone too is Bruce Rondon, Detroit’s alleged closer of the future who never found his footing in the Motor City. Myles Jaye and Anibal Sanchez, both of whom spent time in the bullpen last year, are gone as well.

However, 2018’s bullpen is shaping up to have a lot of familiar faces in it. Despite multiple minor league free agent signees, only one newcomer appears to be battling for a spot in Detroit’s bullpen in 2018.

Shane Greene, Alex Wilson, Daniel Stumpf, Drew VerHagen and Joe Jimenez are all considered locks to start 2018 in the bullpen.

Buck Farmer, who is out of options, is likely going to start the season out as the team’s long reliever. With Ron Gardenhire announcing that the team is planning to have 12 pitchers and 13 hitters on the roster, that leaves one bullpen spot remaining.

The Tigers re-assigned both Chad Bell and Blaine Hardy to Triple-A Toledo. While both are expected to spend time with the Tigers at some point this season, that leaves two pitchers competing for the final bullpen spot: Warwick Saupold and Johnny Barbato.

Warwick Saupold

Saupold was a big piece of Detroit’s bullpen last season, pitching in middle relief. The 28-year-old Australian threw 62.2 innings in 45 appearances, often being asked to throw multiple innings.

Saupold is hoping to reprise that same role again this season. In order to do so, he will need to look like the pitcher he was in the first half of 2017. Saupold threw 31.2 innings in the first half of the season and 31 in the second half. His numbers, however, could not have looked different.

Saupold posted a tidy 1.99 ERA with a 20/9 K/BB ratio and a 0.98 WHIP in the first half of the year. He held hitters to a .200 BAA and a .285 OBP. However, things took a dramatic turn for the worst in the second half. Saupold posted an ugly 7.84 ERA with a 24/22 K/BB ratio and a 2.06 WHIP. Opponents hit .316 and posted a .423 OBP.

Saupold admitted to dealing with arm fatigue at the end of the season, and is planning to do less in between pitching sessions this year in order to stay fresh. Arm fatigue is very likely the culprit, as pitchers tend to lose their control when they are tired.

Saupold, who was named by ESPN as the player on the Tigers who doesn’t get talked about enough, will need to demonstrate that he can be a successful reliever for an entire 162 game season if he wants to stick in the bullpen this year.

Saupold’s Spring

He has done little to help himself this spring however, throwing 10.1 innings and giving up seven runs, including two home runs. His 9/4 K/BB ratio isn’t bad, so there is hope that he can look like the pitcher he was in the first half of 2017 next season. If so, he will slot back into a middle relief role in the Motor City.