Tigers' promotion of top prospect could spoil hopes for big splash at trade deadline

On Monday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reported that the Tigers would be calling up No. 10 prospect (No. 3 pitching prospect) Troy Melton for his major league debut on Wednesday against the Pirates.

Fans had already started calling for Melton's promotion during a fantastic stretch in Triple-A Toledo, where he was recently promoted on June 5. In five starts from June 24 through July 18, he pitched 25 2/3 innings and only gave up two earned runs while walking just six batters and striking out 40. During his most recent start, he struck out eight in just four innings.

The Tigers' rotation has been in flux a lot over the past month or so, as Jackson Jobe, Reese Olson, and Casey Mize have all been sidelined for varying lengths with injury. In the meantime, the Tigers have relied upon Keider Montero, the occasional bullpen game, and two starts from Dietrich Enns after a three-year hiatus.

Enns didn't work out, and Montero has barely shown flashes of the pitcher who threw a complete game shutout last season, so the Tigers are doing what they do best: turning to a top prospect.

Tigers' No. 10 prospect Troy Melton set to make his MLB debut on Wednesday vs. Pirates

MLB Pipeline has showered praise on Melton, with their scouting report going as far as to say that he could be the Tigers' next "high-rising pitcher" in the style of Tarik Skubal. He has five pitches — a fastball, changeup, cutter, curveball, and slider — a more varied arsenal than the higher-ranked pitchers above him in the pipeline. Additionally, his 40 strikeouts in five outings indicate a ton of swing-and-miss.

However, this could dampen fans' hopes that the Tigers would go out and get a starting pitcher at the trade deadline. Most rumors have indicated that their focus will be on relievers and maybe (hopefully) a bat, but with Alex Cobb looking like he's never going to start a game in a Tigers uniform, they could've used the extra help from a proven commodity.

Still, Melton's debut should be one to look forward to, and it makes sense that the Tigers would turn to internal options to fill gaps in an area of the roster that isn't as vulnerable as some of the others. He'll match up with Pirates starter Bailey Falter, who's been struggling lately, as the Tigers look to get back on track.