Detroit Tigers Weekly Recap: Wins(!) and rain

Michael Fulmer

Detroit Tigers ace starter Michael Fulmer has looked masterful through two starts this season. After an eight inning, one run loss to the Pirates last week, Fulmer followed that up with 5.1 scoreless innings against the White Sox on Saturday. He struck out four and walked three.

Fulmer may never be a huge strikeout guy. However, he has shown an uncanny ability to not allow baserunners, and to limit damage when they do get on. As long as he can continue to only allow weak contact (he currently sports a 21.1% soft-hit rate) he will remain one of the elite starting pitchers in baseball.

Francisco Liriano

Francisco Liriano was a surprise as Detroit’s first winner of the season. He tossed 6.2 innings against the Pirates and gave up one run on four hits and two walks. He struck out three. Liriano won a starting rotation spot despite finishing 2017 in Houston’s bullpen. He posted a strong spring with the Tigers however, and could be valuable trade bait at the deadline if he continues to pitch well.

Jordan Zimmermann

Veteran Jordan Zimmermann followed up his strong eight strikeout performance in Detroit’s opener with a dud. In 4.1 innings against the White Sox, Zimmermann surrendered six runs on nine hits and one walk. He only struck out three. While a fair bit of Zimmermann’s start was bad luck, the veteran right-hander will need to limit base runners if he wants to ever find success in a Tigers uniform.

Matt Boyd

Left-hander Matt Boyd was a tough-luck loser on Tuesday, tossing six innings of one-run ball. He only surrendered four hits and didn’t walk anyone. The one strikeout is a tad concerning going forward, but it was great to see Boyd start the season off on the right foot. Hopefully the Tigers can start to score some runs behind him.

Mike Fiers

Mike Fiers made sure to make a great first impression with Tigers fans, tossing six shutout innings in Detroit’s win over the White Sox on Sunday. He only surrendered three hits and one walk, while striking out six. It was a great start for Fiers, who had a very ugly spring training and looked like a potential long reliever. Fiers should settle in nicely into the rotation going forward.

The Good

Nicholas Castellanos is slashing .324/.395/.500 with two triples and three RBI on the year. The league-leader in triples last season, Castellanos has continued to sting the ball. When the weather gets nicer, expect Castellanos to rapidly start adding to that home run total.

The Tigers are giving plenty of rest to DH Victor Martinez, but the slugger is slashing a robust .286/.360/.381 with five RBI on the year. Again, the home runs should come for the veteran switch-hitter.

Miggy is back, leading the team with one home run and nine RBI while slashing .276/.353/.483.

Lastly, Dixon Machado has been a pleasant surprise, hitting .281 with a team high six doubles and seven RBI, second only to Cabrera.

The Bad

Jose Iglesias is an abysmal 2-for-26 (.077) so far on the year. He’s drawn three walks and swiped a base, but he will need to start hitting if we wants to keep his job over Niko Goodrum, who is hitting .250 with a home run.

Mikie Mahtook had a terrible spring, and has followed that up with a .160/.241/.200 slash line to start the year. Do not be surprised to see JaCoby Jones start to cut into his playing time, and soon.

James McCann is hitting .208 and has already matched last year’s total of two errors in the field. McCann is secure in his job for now, but John Hicks and Jarrod Saltalamacchia both represent solid veteran options that could cut into his playing time if he doesn’t shape up.

The Tigers chose to hold onto young left-hander Daniel Norris, opting to keep him in the bullpen and to send down right-hander Warwick Saupold instead. The Tigers still view Norris as a future starter, and are planning to keep him stretched out in a long relief role with the big club.

Saupold threw 3.1 scoreless innings across four games, giving up three hits and one walk. It’s a bit surprising to see him go down after a strong start, but Detroit figures to rotate through quite a few relievers this season. Plus, Saupold is one of the few relievers with options remaining.

Detroit and Kansas City were rained out on Thursday, with the makeup game scheduled for April 20, when both teams have a scheduled off-day.

Victor Reyes pinch-ran for Victor Martinez in Saturday’s contest, a sign that he is healed from the laceration he suffered after a collision with Jose Iglesias. Reyes has only played in two games so far this year. He figures to primarily be a pinch-runner while he waits out his year on the 25-man roster, per the Rule 5 Draft requirements. JaCoby Jones is firmly entrenched as the team’s fourth outfielder, so don’t expect to see Reyes more than a handful of times this season.

On the Farm

In the minors, outfielder Mike Gerber has already hit two home runs in just three games with Triple-A Toledo. He figures to make his big league debut sometime in 2018.

Chad Bell looked solid in his first start back at Triple-A Toledo, striking out five in 3.1 innings of work.

And finally, shortstop prospect Sergio Alcantara is 6-for-14 with two doubles and a triple as Double-A Erie’s starting shortstop.

Next: Tigers prospects entering make-or-break seasons

Up next for the Tigers is a full week of games. They play four in Cleveland against the Indians before heading back home to host Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees.