Predicting the Detroit Tigers 2022 Opening Day Roster 1.5

The Detroit Tigers are less than two weeks away from Opening Day against the White Sox, and players’ roles are becoming more solidified.

The Detroit Tigers need to cut down the roster to just 28 players and have been making changes throughout spring training. Most recently, the Tigers optioned LHP Miguel Del Pozo and infielders Kody Clemens and Zack Short to AAA Toledo, leaving 46 players in Major League Camp. In addition, the Tigers recently agreed to terms for the upcoming 2022 season with all of their pre-arbitration eligible players, including some big names like Jeimer Candelario, Michael Fulmer, and Harold Castro.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch still has some time to figure out who will make the Opening Day roster, but the answer is becoming more evident as spring training continues. In today’s article, I will predict the opening day roster for our Detroit Tigers, starting with the rotation.

Detroit Tigers Starting Pitchers: Eduardo Rodriguez, Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Matt Manning, and Tyler Alexander. (5/28)

Last month, the Detroit Tigers still had to address who would fill out the final spot in the rotation. They solved this problem by signing former All-Star Michael Pineda.

However, it is unlikely that Pineda will be prepared to pitch at the beginning of the season, which allows Tyler Alexander to take that fifth slot for the time being. As a result, Eduardo Rodriguez will occupy the first slot, and the Tigers’ young core of Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, and Matt Manning will take the three middle spots.