After a couple unexciting roster battles and a few health-related setbacks, the Detroit Tigers have 25 men ready to open the regular season Tuesday night against the Miami Marlins. Read on for the rundown.
Lineup:
| Ian Kinsler | RH | 2B |
| Justin Upton | RH | LF |
| Miguel Cabrera | RH | 1B |
| Victor Martinez | SH | DH |
| J.D. Martinez | RH | RF |
| Nick Castellanos | RH | 3B |
| James McCann | RH | C |
| Jose Iglesias | RH | SS |
| Anthony Gose | LH | CF |
This won’t be the lineup Tuesday, with the Tigers traveling to a National League park. Cameron Maybin in center field should also see plenty of starts upon recovery from a fractured left wrist. But this is likely close to an everyday configuration, barring more injuries.
Last year’s opening day lineup included Rajai Davis leading off (though platoon partner Gose ended up starting more games), Yoenis Cespedes at No. 6, and Alex Avila batting eighth (though McCann soon took over primary catching duties). Cespedes has been replaced by Upton, and in Davis’ absence, Maybin will share time with Gose.
Bench:
| Jarrod Saltalamacchia | SH | C |
| Andrew Romine | SH | IF |
| Tyler Collins | LH | OF |
| Mike Aviles | RH | UT |
Maybin will likely push Collins off the roster in a few weeks.
Last year’s group predominantly consisted of some combination of Davis, Romine, Avila, Collins, Jefry Marte, Dixon Machado, Bryan Holaday, Hernan Perez, and Josh Wilson. Detroit looks to have improved its bench significantly.
Rotation:
| Justin Verlander | RHP |
| Jordan Zimmermann | RHP |
| Anibal Sanchez | RHP |
| Mike Pelfrey | RHP |
| Shane Greene | RHP |
The race to be fifth starter was saturated with competitors after frontrunner Daniel Norris’ spine fracture but ended up being pretty anticlimactic. Matt Boyd and Buck Farmer were in the running late in spring training, but the Tigers determined the former needed more seasoning and the latter was needed in the bullpen. Greene could move to a relief role once Norris completes his injury rehabilitation process.
Last year’s rotation included David Price and Alfredo Simon, who general manager Al Avila has replaced with Zimmermann and Pelfrey. Verlander and Sanchez are back and hoping to produce healthier and more consistent seasons. Greene, Boyd, Norris, and Farmer each started games last season, while Kyle Lobstein, Randy Wolf, and Kyle Ryan completed the fifth starter contingent. Lobstein and Wolf are out now, but midseason trade acquisition and consensus top prospect Michael Fulmer adds some depth.
Bullpen:
| Francisco Rodriguez | RHP |
| Mark Lowe | RHP |
| Justin Wilson | LHP |
| Drew VerHagen | RHP |
| Kyle Ryan | LHP |
| Buck Farmer | RHP |
| Logan Kensing | RHP |
No one from last year’s opening day bullpen remains, and only Rodriguez, Lowe, and Wilson were considered locks at the start of spring training. Shoulder issues for Alex Wilson and Blaine Hardy, the best relievers in Detroit last year, guaranteed a spot for VerHagen, another 2015 success story. Lendy Castillo, Bruce Rondon, and Bobby Parnell were in the mix, but initial longshots Ryan, Farmer, and Kensing (a non-roster invitee) earned the final three spots. It might not seem like an exciting group, but when Alex Wilson and Hardy are ready and Norris displaces Greene, this group could look a lot different. And say what you will about Rondon, but he and Parnell have high upside and await opportunities to prove themselves.
Comerican Dream 