Detroit Tigers: Is Mike Pelfrey’s Slow Start Cause for Concern?

Apr 15, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey reacts after a play during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey reacts after a play during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Through three starts with the Detroit Tigers, Mike Pelfrey has yet to live up to his 2-year, $16 million deal, so should we be concerned?

So far in 2016, Mike Pelfrey has been bad. Very, very, bad.

Pelfrey’s sluggish start is not what general manager Al Avila had in mind he inked him to a $16 million deal over two years in early December.

The Detroit Tigers signed the veteran right-hander in hopes of solidifying the back end of the starting rotation.

"“He’s a guy that we feel is a good bet for us that he can bounce back and build off of last year,” Avila said. “Our intent was to get a guy that can go out there and give us 30 starts, give us some innings, a veteran guy that has good clubhouse makeup, that’s a leader on the team, that gives us the opportunity for those young guys [to further develop].”"

Through three starts in ’16, Pelfrey owns an 0-3 record to go along with a 3.68 ERA. In each of his outings, Pelfrey has failed to last longer than six innings.

His first start with the team against the New York Yankees only lasted 3 2/3 innings, as Pelfrey allowed six runs on seven hits. Only two of those runs were earned, but still, it was not an ideal beginning to his Tigers career.

His next two starts were not much better, either. Against the Houston Astros and the Kansas City Royals, Pelfrey walked 11 batters over 11 innings, making history for the wrong reason.

Pelfrey is the only Tigers starter that has yet to record a win, and his rough three starts have caused fans to become anxious.

There is reason to still have hope in the 32-year old journeyman. He finished spring training by compiling a 2-2 record to go along with an impressive 2.66 ERA. Over his five starts in March, he walked just seven batters over 20 1/3 innings, allowing his opponents to hit an unsatisfactory .203.

Hopefully Pelfrey’s slow start to the new season does not carry over. If it does, however, the Tigers have several options they could look at that could potentially slide into Pelfrey’s spot in the rotation.

In the minor leagues, Michael Fulmer and Matt Boyd are both looking to punch their ticket to the bigs.

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Fulmer, who was recently tabbed as the Tigers’ No. 1 prospect, is off to a nice start with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, despite his recent outing on April 22. In his first two starts, Fulmer allowed one earned run over the span of eleven innings.

Fulmer’s most recent start was not as pretty as his first two. He only lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits and allowing six earned runs.

If Pelfrey continues to struggle, an alternative option could be Matt Boyd. Boyd, who spent the second half of last season with the Tigers, was booted from the starting rotation heading into the season.

Along with Fulmer, Boyd has pitched well in the first three starts of his season in Toledo. He owns a 1-2 record, but has only given up four earned runs over 16 innings of work.

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Mike Pelfrey is not the Cy Young candidate fans have wanted him to be, but it has only been three starts. If he fails to improve, the Detroit Tigers certainly have depth within the organization to replace him.

But, it’s only April. Don’t write him off yet.