Detroit Tigers: Power Ranking the Scheduled 2020 Opponents

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The Detroit Tigers will be facing just the AL Central and NL Central for the shortened season. What is different for each team and how do they rank in difficulty for Detroit?

With “Summer Camp 2020” just days away, the Detroit Tigers have their 60-man roster set for the shortened season, minus two spots that will be announced the next day with the signing of Torkelson and the corresponding move. The camp will be held at Comerica Park, with the first pitchers and catchers workout scheduled for July 3.

Baseball America, among others, noted the roster is prospect heavy, which is a good sign that the farm system is showing continued improvement. The new top 50 board at the Tigers Minor League Report has a heavy dose of the 2020 draft picks in the top 30 and that may have helped them catch up with their division rivals. Detroit now leads the parade among farm system rankings, according to Bleacher Report with the Royals coming in at number 10, Chicago at number 12, Twins at 15, and Cleveland at number 20.

There is a possibility that we could see some of the top Tigers prospects playing in games this season. With that, there is an inherited risk with the threat of COVID-19. The risk has been reduced to the best of MLB’s abilities with this shortened schedule.

The Tigers will have 10 games against the Royals, Indians, White Sox, and Twins with four each against all NL Central teams. In addition to what the rest of the division looks like prospect wise, the NL Central is loaded with some talented prospects.

On each team, I will list a few impactful prospects that may or may not make an appearance as we start these team rankings. To have a working knowledge of some of the names you may be familiar with in the future should be helpful. Without further ado, let’s start with the power rankings for Detroit’s opponents for 2020, ranked from least to the most difficult.

TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 24: Josh Bell #55 of the Pittsburgh Pirates (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

9. Pittsburgh Pirates

Off-season moves: OF Jarrod Dyson, Derek Holland, trading Starling Marte to Arizona for minor leaguers SS Liover Peguero and RHP Brennan Malone.

Prospects to watch on the 60-man roster: 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes, OF Jared Oliva

Interesting that the Pirates did not add Peguero, Malone, or 2020 first-round pick Nick Gonzales for their 60-man roster. Pittsburgh did have a busy off-season, but not with signing players, rather they replaced manager Clint Hurdle and GM Neal Huntington. Players to watch include Josh Bell, Gregory Polanco. But their pitching staff has been hit with injuries, with Jameson Taillon and Chad Kuhl both recovering from Tommy John surgery. The rotation lacks depth and the relief corps is very bare-bones.

8. Kansas City Royals

Off-season moves: 3B Maikel Franco, RHP Trevor Rosenthal, RHP Greg Holland

Prospects to watch on the 60-man roster: RHP Brady Singer, RHP Jackson Kowar, SS Bobby Witt Jr

The likelihood of Witt Jr seeing the major league level is slim to none but he will be in the 60-man camp. Former Tigers reliever Trevor Rosenthal, who struggled in his trial in Toledo, had such an impressive camp that Tigers fans will now see him on the Royals’ 40-man roster. Singer could make the starting rotation so that is a storyline to watch. The Royals hope a fresh start for Franco will help out Kansas City.

Their system just got better with Asa Lacy joining a good crop of young pitching but he was not added to the 60-man roster. The Royals have a few bats but like Detroit, they may struggle to contend this season.

7. Chicago White Sox

Off-season moves: C Yasmani Grandal LHP Gio Gonzalez, LHP Dallas Keuchel, RHP Steve Cishek, OF Nomar Mazara, DH Edwin Encarnacion

Prospects to watch on the 60-man roster: RHP Dylan Cease, IF Nick Madrigal, 1B Andrew Vaughn, OF Luis Robert, 2B Nick Madrigal

Chicago had the busiest off-season of any AL Central team, quickly adding top free-agent catcher prize Grandal and improving the rotation with the signing of Keuchel. Michael Kopech is just coming back from surgery so he could be on an innings restriction. He was hitting 100 MPH already in spring training 1.0 so that is a good sign for the south side.

Reigning AL batting champ Tim Anderson and the rest of the White Sox offense can put up a punch and the addition of a veteran bat in DH Edwin Encarnación should be able to put Chicago in the mix for an Al Central division title. The reason why I have them at number 7? Because you still have to go out to prove the hype and the Indians and Twins are still very good but the White Sox are inching closer to an AL Central contender.

GOODYEAR, ARIZONA – MARCH 07: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

6. Cincinnati Reds

Off-season moves: LHP Wade Miley, RHP Pedro Strop, OF Shogo Akiyama, OF Nick Castellanos

Prospects to watch on the 60-man roster: IF Jonathan India, IF Jose Garcia, C Tyler Stephenson

I had a very hard time putting the Reds here versus the White Sox because they were one of the more active teams in the off-season in terms of who the Tigers are facing but they have slightly better pitching than Chicago. Adding Wade Miley to an impressive rotation of Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo, and Trevor Bauer. Miley’s best season was in 2018 when he was in Milwaukee under then pitching coach Derek Johnson. Johnson is now with the Reds so that may help Miley return to form.

You expect former Tiger Nick Castellanos to be motivated when he takes on Detroit. He will certainly help the Reds’ team batting average, which was near the bottom of the NL. Strop’s K-rate was good but gives up too many home runs. If he can return to some semblance of what he was, the Reds could have a steal in free agency. Akiyama has produced offense in Japan but there are defensive concerns. The Reds should be a fun team to watch in 2020.

5. Cleveland Indians

Off-season moves: OF Domingo Santana, 2B Cesar Hernandez, OF Franmil Reyes

Prospects to watch on the 60-man roster: C Bo Naylor, SS Tyler Freeman, OF George Valera, 3B Nolan Jones, 2B Aaron Bracho, RHP Triston McKenzie, RHP Ethan Hankins, RHP Daniel Espino

First rounders Espino (2019) and Hankins (2018) made the 60-man roster but not likely they will see the majors. Domingo Santana, who I wanted Detroit to go after, was having a great season in Seattle before his injuries made him limited in the second half of the season. Despite what may look like minimal moves by the front office, this team did win 93 games behind strong starting pitching with Shane Bieber and Mike Clevinger and Brad Hand leading the bullpen.

You should expect Francisco Lindor to continue to garner attention for a tradeline trade based if he can put up some big numbers in a short season. Of course, the trade rumors for Lindor have become a cliche as it customary to trade a player’s salary demands exceed what you may give him. They are still dangerous and may challenge for a Wild-Card spot again.

4. Chicago Cubs

Off-season moves: OF Steve Souza Jr, 2B Jason Kipnis, Uti Hernan Perez, RHP Jeremy Jeffress

Prospects to watch on the 60-man roster: C Miguel Amaya, RHP Adbert Alzolay, 3B Christopher Morel.

The Cubs are doing something different. They are putting 11 players at Four Winds Field, home of their low Single-A affiliate, South Bend Cubs as those players will be working out separately from the rest of the roster that is reporting at Wrigley Field. There are 10 spots still missing, however, so the higher end names on their prospect list still could fill the void.

Regardless, the Cubs are still very good, as new manager David Ross takes over a veteran squad. They have a talented offensive trio in Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Baez. Albert Almora Jr was having a sizzling spring before the shutdown so if he can continue his progress and the rotation can stay healthy, they could contend for a wild card spot.

FORT MYERS, FL- MARCH 11: Josh Donaldson #24 talks with Nelson Cruz #23 of the Minnesota Twins during a spring training game between the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins on March 11, 2020, at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

3. St Louis Cardinals

Off-season moves: IF Brad Miller, OF Austin Dean, LHP Matthew Liberatore, LHP Kwang Hyun Kim

Prospects to watch on the 60-man roster: OF Dylan Carlson, LHP Genesis Cabrera, RHP Ryan Helsey

A lot of Cardinals fans are upset for lack of “big moves” in the off-season but they just won an NL Central division crown and every year, the Cardinals get it done. The chances of seeing Carlson is real as in his two stops between Double-A and Triple-A in 2019 put up an impressive .292/.372/.542 slash line with 26 home runs and with 143 hits. Cabrera and Helsey both helped out St. Louis in 2019 and should continue to grow. It was rather shocking not to see Libertore added after they made a trade for him but I am looking forward to seeing the Cards play Detroit as they are always a great team to watch.

2. Milwaukee Brewers

Off-season moves: UTL Jedd Gyorko, 1B Justin Smoak, 3B Eric Sogard, OF Avisail Garcia, LHP Brett Anderson, RHP Josh Lindblom, RHP Justin Grimm,

Prospects to watch on the 60-man roster: None

Only 45 players will be in camp for the Brew Crew as they have a very good veteran team. 1st round draft pick Garrett Mitchell still has not signed yet, which is a bit of a surprise but the rest of the 2020 draft class will not be in camp.

Had the Brewers had pitching down the stretch, their season would have turned out differently. That is a simple hindsight statement but injuries took the Brewers off the rails last year. Expect Anderson and Lindblom to fill the gap. This lineup features NL MVP Christian Yelich and a blooming young second baseman in Keston Hiura. Expect former Tigers prospect Corey Knebel to return and give another arm to a very good Brewers bullpen. This team will be a tough challenge for Detroit.

1. Minnesota Twins

Off-season moves: 3B Josh Donaldson, C Alex Avila, RHP Kenta Maeda, RHP Homer Bailey, LHP Rich Hill RHP Tyler Clippard

Prospects to watch on the 60-man roster: IF Royce Lewis, OF Brent Rooker, C Ryan Jeffers, OF Trevor Larnach.

The Twins addressed their rotation and bullpen needs to strengthen the “Bomba Squad”. The Twins LOVED Detroit pitching, hitting 38 home runs off Detroit, 2nd only next to the White Sox, and produced a ridiculous slash line of .295/.366/.526 with an OPS of .891 against the Tigers in 2019. Also, they hit 20 home runs in Comerica Park in a full 162 game schedule. Imagine this team in 60 games. You add Josh Donaldson to this lineup, another year of Jose Berrios growth to anchor the rotation and this by far, will be the toughest team for the Detroit Tigers this season.

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