Detroit Tigers: Who takes over as sixth starter?

Artie Lewicki

Lewicki checks all the boxes Detroit is looking for in a swing-man: big league experience, experience as a starter and out of the bullpen.

Lewicki was an eighth round pick by the Tigers back in 2014. He ascended quickly through the minor leagues and made his big league debut in 2017 after five excellent starts at Triple-A. In 10.1 innings with the Tigers, Lewicki struck out six and walked four. He gave up 19 hits and seven earned runs however, good for a 6.10 ERA. That earned him a spot in Triple-A to begin 2018, where he hasn’t looked good.

However, like Carpenter, Lewicki has faced some bad luck down in Toledo. He’s made four starts so far this season and sports an ugly 6.86 ERA despite a 3.64 FIP.

He did throw one disastrous big league inning earlier in the year, giving up two runs on four hits and one walk.

Overall, Lewicki is probably not sitting atop Detroit’s wish list when looking for a spot-starter. His stuff hasn’t played well at the big league level, and he has really struggled to locate his pitches. Until he regains some of that magic that made him so good at Triple-A in 2017, don’t expect to see him up in the Motor City anytime soon.