Detroit Tigers Weekly Recap: Bad Weather, Worse Baseball

The bullpen got quite a bit of use this week, with short outings from Zimmermann and Fulmer causing a roster move to give the team more arms to work with. Here’s how they fared:

Chad Bell, as was noted previously, was recalled to add a fresh arm following the 0.2 inning outing from Zimmermann. That proved to be vital, as Michael Fulmer only made it through three innings in his start, which allowed Bell to throw four scoreless innings in relief. While Bell definitely has some potential as a reliever, this outing was a bit fluky. He allowed seven base runners, but was fortunate that no one came around to score. His stay in Detroit may not be a long one as the Tigers are currently running with a three-man bench.

Buck Farmer threw 2.2 innings across three games. He had five strikeouts and four walks but was fortunate to only give up one run. He continues to be one of Detroit’s most used bullpen pieces, despite limited success.

Drew VerHagen had a great week, tossing 4.2 innings in three games. He did not allow a single hit or a run, while striking out four and walking three. He will need to work on his control if he ever wants to be more than a mop up reliever, however.

Alex Wilson has probably been Detroit’s biggest disappointment this season on the pitching side. He gave up three runs in two innings last week, bringing his season ERA up to 7.00. His 5.62 FIP tells the same story: Wilson is not pitching well right now. He will need to find a way to replicate his early career success if he wants to keep a high-leverage role with this team.

Daniel Stumpf, Shane Greene and Joe Jimenez each only threw once last week. They represent Detroit’s three best relievers. It’s a bummer they haven’t had as much opportunity to throw yet. Greene in particular has looked dominant, and Jimenez seems to be coming into his own. If this bullpen is able to rise to at least average levels, it will be on the back of these three guys.

Next: Ten Best Pitching Performances in Tigers History

This week, the Detroit Tigers will face off three times against the Baltimore Orioles. They’ll take on AL Central foe Kansas City in a four-game set right after. Hopefully the Tigers, and the weather, can get back on track in the next week.