Detroit Tigers: Lack of Major League type players will doom the 2018 team

Going into Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, the Detroit Tigers’ starting rotation had the fourth best ERA in all Major League Baseball. Now the injury bug and lack of depth is drastically effecting the team.

Only Houston, Boston and Cleveland have better starting ERA statistics than the Detroit Tigers. While the majority of Detroit’s starters have an ERA under 4.00, the majority of relievers have ERA’s above 5.00.

As soon as starters leave the game, opposing teams pounce on the Tiger relief corps. In spite of all the gloom, the Detroit Tigers stand in second place in the American League Central.

But injuries to notable players such as Miguel Cabrera and emerging Leonys Martin may further derail the Bengals.  Miggy is currently struggling with a biceps strain and Martin has a hamstring pull.

Improved Hitting

Tiger averages are slowly climbing up to their norm.  Cabrera, Castellanos and Candelario are leading the team with batting averages over .280. But again with the good comes the bad.

Every non-starter is batting below .222 and they are joined by both middle infielders. When six of the Tiger eight offensive players are batting below .235, the Bengals cannot maintain second place. Minnesota is just too good.

No Depth

The inept hitting of the Detroit Tigers was exemplified Monday night when Tampa Bay pitcher Jake Faria held the Bengals to three hits over eight innings. Faria entered the game  with a 1-1 record and 6.33 ERA.

Inept hitting cost Jordan Zimmermann his best outing of the year. Shane Greene will be remembered for losing the game in the ninth.

But the Tigers only real scoring opportunity was in the last frame of the game. It never should have gone that far. When a team has three hits through eight innings the chance of winning is nil, at best.

The Tiger team cannot hit their way out of a paper bag. They are carrying players apparently for cost savings reasons, only. But their savings are paltry.

Of the young players on this years squad, perhaps only a handful have a realistic shot at a big league career.

Jeimer Candelario looks to be the real deal. His offensive and defensive skills continue to shine.

Next: Exploring a Jose Iglesias to LA Trade

Al Kaline has stated that Jacoby Jones is the best defensive outfielder in the Detroit Tiger system. His continued play at the major league level is precisely what he needs.

The remaining core of reserves appear to be roster fillers only. Even if the Detroit Tiger relievers up their game and fulfill their anticipated success, the Bengals will go nowhere this year.