Detroit Tigers: Working to get from third to first
Fellow Detroit Tigers fans, our beloved team is currently in third place in the AL Central. None of us want the team to stay in third, but what do they need to do to work its way back to the top (besides sending Kansas City to the National League… I can dream, can’t I?)?
Win.
Pretty straightforward, no? Win games. Stay consistent. Right now, the Tigers just can’t put together a winning streak. The Tigers need to get on a roll and make sure they’re clicking on all cylinders.
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May 20, 2015; Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus (left) takes the ball to relieve starting pitcher Shane Greene (61). Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
They started the year by setting the AL record for consecutive scoreless innings thrown. It looked like starting pitching would be no problem. When Justin Verlander went on the DL, that took away a veteran starter. Players called up to fill his role just didn’t cut it. Take Buck Farmer, for instance. In his two starts, he went 0-2, gave up 17 hits and had a 10.45 ERA.
Other starters like Anibal Sanchez (6-7 with a 4.63 ERA) and Shane Greene (4-6 with a 5.82 ERA) have been inconsistent, too. While you can’t expect too much from every starter, it is hard to go from a rotation with guys like Doug Fister and Max Scherzer (whose ERA is 1.79 in 15 starts this season) to what the Tigers are working with now.
Losing Victor Martinez to a knee injury added insult to, well, injury. JD Martinez and Yoenis Cespedes filled the number four spot in the lineup with few problems, seeing as they both have great power. Well, at least after JD got back on track after going 0-for-23 for a stretch. Rajai Davis managed to fill the hole in the batting order with speed, too, which is something Victor Martinez has little of. Still, no one can truly replace V-Mart.
A big issue is that, for certain stretches, the team hasn’t been able to score runs, then it will put up double digits in one game. It’s like the players get all their hits for the week in just one game, then fizzle out. For the number of base hits the team has collected, they have scored 23 fewer runs than expected. It’s been frustrating for everyone, to say the least.
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One of the most consistent parts of the team was been the bullpen, at least until June, which I don’t think anyone saw coming. The relievers have been poor as of late (which is more expected), but it is making all of the team’s issues stand out even more.
So how do the Tigers get back to number one? Can they? Will they? Please?!
The good news is, Verlander and V-Mart are back and the team is 25-13 against Central Division opponents. The team is even 19-17 on the road. Sadly, the Tigers are only 20-22 at home. Again, inconsistent.
They have to find a way to gain momentum and stay consistent on both sides of the ball. They have to win and get a little cocky. Right now, they seem timid. They need to get some swagger back and remember who they are. It can be done, but they need to make that switch soon.
Next: Trade Rumor: Tigers Scouting Marlins Starting Pitchers