LAKELAND, Fla. — The Tigers still have a logjam in their rotation as they head into the home stretch of Spring Training.
Three off-days in the first two weeks of the regular season, rendering a six-man rotation out of the question.
Zero starters pitching their way out of consideration at this point. If anything, they have relievers showing the kind of stuff that could make them options as starters if the Tigers needed them.
Casey Mize battled in his last start against the Orioles, but limited damage with some of his best stuff of the spring. Reese Olson turned in three scoreless innings and four strikeouts in his previous start leading up to Monday’s matinee against the Astros. Matt Manning has given up just four hits over eight innings this spring, but all four have been homers, three of them on a hot, windy Saturday afternoon against the Pirates in his last start.
“That’s not sustainable,” Manning joked about the homers.
Barring injury, manager A.J. Hinch, president of baseball operations Scott Harris and pitching coach Chris Fetter will have to sort this out. When they do, they’ll have not only the opening stretch in mind, but the rest of the season. At some point, the Tigers will need extra starters, either as injury replacements or as a rest for someone else. Those starters will be better prepared working at Triple-A Toledo than they will working out of the Detroit bullpen, but the Tigers have nearly as tricky a roster crunch in their relief corps.
As we enter the home stretch of Spring Training, here’s one last try at projecting Detroit’s Opening Day roster:
Catcher (2): Jake Rogers, Carson Kelly
Kelly is 7-for-16 with a double and a homer this spring, his third consecutive camp with solid offensive numbers. Meanwhile, four of Rogers’ five hits through Sunday have gone for extra bases, including a ground-rule double Sunday against the Mets. Dillon Dingler has made an impression with some well-deserved spring at-bats.
First base (1): Spencer Torkelson
Torkelson entered Monday batting 1-for-15 with a double and five strikeouts in March, but he’s just now rounding into regular at-bats after the Tigers ramped him up slowly to begin Grapefruit League play. He had a similar start last spring before heating up the last couple of weeks.
Second base (2): Colt Keith, Andy Ibáñez
Keith has stuck with his approach and produced some solid at-bats beyond the basic numbers, including five balls with triple-digit exit velocities (three went for outs). Ibáñez has been on a tear this spring, including four home runs in 11 games entering Monday. Could his ability to crush lefties lead to some starts at second against southpaws?
Shortstop (1): Javier Báez
No, Javy isn’t going anywhere, and his defense is still the strength of the Tigers’ infield. But Báez is 1-for-18 with nine strikeouts this spring, and his lone hit was a well-placed bloop single against the Yankees. He has three hard-hit outs and a sac fly, but putting more balls in play remains a work in progress.
Third base (1): Gio Urshela
Urshela’s $1.5 million contract doesn’t necessarily guarantee him this spot; the Tigers can move on if he struggles. But he’s looking the part of a starting third baseman again, rounding into form following his mid-season injury last year and late signing this offseason.
Designated hitter (1): Kerry Carpenter
Carpenter returned from a left hamstring strain last week and put up tough at-bats against Spencer Strider and a single against Charlie Morton. He’s working back into outfield play now and should be an option in right. He’s hitless in two games since, but has had a good approach as he prepares for a follow-up to his breakout season.
Bench (2): Matt Vierling, Zach McKinstry
Vierling has two hits this spring, but both have gone for extra bases, including a triple Saturday against the Pirates. He also produced some good at-bats against Alex Lange and Shelby Miller in a simulated game Sunday at Joker Marchant Stadium. McKinstry is 6-for-13 with nine walks and one strikeout this spring after tweaking his approach at the plate, and could push for starts in the outfield as well as at third base.
Bullpen (8): Alex Lange, Jason Foley, Andrew Chafin, Shelby Miller, Tyler Holton, Alex Faedo, Beau Brieske, Joey Wentz
Faedo’s retinkered changeup has rekindled thoughts about him as starting depth, but his stuff has been so nasty in two-inning doses that he could force his way into the bullpen and let the Tigers figure out the role. Same goes for Brieske, who has yet to allow a hit this spring, and his slider. Will Vest has four walks and four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings this spring, including two walks in a 27-pitch, 14-strike scoreless inning last Saturday.