Three biggest Detroit Tigers spring training storylines

2) Who gets the Detroit Tigers’ fifth starter spot?

Michael Pineda was signed to be the Detroit Tigers’ fifth starter in their rotation, so there is no real roster battle here. The issue is one more of logistics. Players are slowly running out of time to arrive at camp–especially starting pitchers, who undoubtedly need more time to stretch themselves out to be prepared for an 80-100-pitch start.

It is anticipated there could be some visa issues with Pineda, and thus, some possibility that he may not be ready for opening day. They start the season with 10-straight games, so they can’t afford to play the game of skipping the fifth starter their first time through and hoping Pineda is here and ready by his second turn through.

Assuming Pineda isn’t here and ready, the fifth starter spot is a four-headed race with two clear-cut favorites. Joey Wentz and Alex Faedo will likely get their respective looks, but I’d assume the organization would prefer to start both in Toledo before bringing them north. That leaves Tyler Alexander and Wily Peralta, who was recently re-signed on a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.