Detroit Tigers: Three Players who will make a difference in September

Christin Stewart

It’s been a bit of a streaky season for Stewart down in Toledo, but at the end of the day the skills that he needed to improve upon in order to get his big league call-up are skills he has improved.

He is currently sporting a 12.8% walk rate and a 20.8% strikeout rate, which are better ratios than he posted in either of the last two years at Double-A. It’s clear Stewart has made it a priority to draw more walks and cut down on his strikeouts, and he has done so without sacrificing any of his power. He has hit 25 home runs this season, after blasting 28 and 30 in the last two seasons.

Of course, Stewart’s defense is still a question mark. He has played 96 games in left field this year, with 12 starts in right field as well. The Tigers are hurting in left field, with five different players combining for a .208/.264/.345 slash line and a 61 OPS+. They haven’t fared much better at DH, with a .246/.291/.368 line.

Stewart may still be a little raw, but it’s clear the Tigers are ready for his improved approach at the plate and the tantalizing raw power. He should get every opportunity to start in left field going forward this season, with a good chance to win the job outright next season.

Zac Houston

It’s not the sexiest thing to be excited about the promotion of a reliever who was drafted in the 11th round, but Houston has been electric this season and deserves a shot at the Tigers bullpen.

Houston, an 11th round pick in the 2016 Draft out of Mississippi State, has been a strikeout machine this season. He began the year in Double-A Erie, tossing 17 1/3 innings and posting a 25/9 K/BB ratio and a 2.60 ERA.

His numbers have been even better since he got to Toledo, where he has posted a 1.18 ERA with 55 strikeouts in just 38.0 innings of work – good for a 13.03 K/9.

The six-foot-five, 220 pound Houston has a huge frame and a fastball that sits in the mid-90’s and can reach 98. He is a two-pitch pitcher, with a slurvey slider complimenting his heater.

Houston has clearly done more than enough to merit an opportunity to pitch in the Detroit Tigers bullpen. Control is still a concern, with a 3.79 BB/9 and a tendency to plunk hitters when he’s trying to back them off the plate. His strikeout numbers will likely come down in the show, but his funky delivery and solid two-pitch mix should make him a viable bullpen option for the time being.

Plus, Detroit’s bullpen could use reinforcements. Bad. If Houston struggles, he is still unlikely to be worse than many of the options that have labored in the big leagues all season.

Matt Hall

The Detroit Tigers have jerked Matt Hall around a bit, moving him from the rotation to the bullpen and back to the rotation this season. Many thought he would get the call when Blaine Hardy went on the DL, but the team instead went with fellow left-hander Ryan Carpenter.

However, it’s clear Hall is ready to face major league hitters. Through 10 starts at Toledo, Hall has a 2.67 ERA , a 1.15 WHIP and a 9.26 K/9. His future is likely as a back-end of the rotation starter, but he might be approaching that ceiling in the next year or two.

Hall is not on the 40-man roster, which will require an additional move if they want to promote him. They could easily add John Hicks, who is out for the season, to the 60-day DL which would free up a spot.

Ultimately, Hall needs to get a chance this season to pitch out of Detroit’s rotation. It’s a rebuilding season, and therefore Detroit’s prospects should be getting looks as soon as they are ready. Carpenter is not a viable big league pitcher, and his future is virtually non-existent.

Hall has a chance to stick in a big league rotation, and it doesn’t do the Tigers any good to roll with Carpenter for the rest of the season when Hall has proven himself ready to take on big league hitters.

The Detroit Tigers have an opportunity to expose their fans to some of the talent that has been sitting in the minor leagues for many years. While the rebuild is still in its infancy, getting a look at the players who will help turn this thing around is always fun, and should make September much more interesting.