Detroit Tigers: Key to Matt Manning's success the rest of the way is efficiency

Detroit Tigers Matt Manning has opportunity ahead.

The Detroit Tigers starting rotation coming into 2023 looked much different than it does right now. Injuries were a problem, struggling arms were a problem, and lo and behold, Michael Lorenzen and Eduardo Rodríguez have been holding things down as the two top arms in the organization.

But for another Detroit Tigers starter, 2023 was supposed to be much different. Former first-round pick Matt Manning was aiming for 2023 to be a breakout season for him, looking to stretch himself out in terms of innings and remain healthy to keep pitching.

While he was able to skirt around any significant injuries, the injury bug did get him for some time already in 2023, leaving him with some gaps in the summer. While the big right-hander has since returned to the mound for the Tigers, he's got to focus on staying healthy the rest of the way.

He's been up and down in his outings, truthfully. He's got an opportunity ahead of him, but he needs to focus on staying healthy and finishing the 2023 season strong. If he can end on a high note, things could bode well for him to try and settle in further for the rest of this season and beyond.

The name of the game for Manning is going to be efficiency. It's not even that the Tigers need him to go out and strike out 12 over 7.0 innings of shutout ball. They just need Manning to go out there and give him 5-6 quality innings. A couple of hits, no problem. A few walks as he tries to work the zone, no problem. Limiting runs and keeping his team in the game, no problem.

Manning has to be able to execute on those things and stay in control of his performance to churn out the good outings. In 2023, Manning has made seven starts, totaling 36.2 innings pitched for the Tigers. His last outing was cut short after just two innings due to a rain delay putting the kibosh on that.

For Manning, he has pitched to a 3.19 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP, with 12 walks to 25 punchouts along the way. It's not been an issue of struggles when he is on the mound for the Tigers, but being able to churn out quality outings will only help him find his way in the Detroit rotation.

Manning needs to find a way to remain efficient the rest of the way in 2023, turning in good outings for the Tigers organization.