The Tigers open the season tonight in Los Angeles against the reigning world champs. When it ends in six months, where will they be?
"I think this is a team that’s going to hover right around .500. I think they end up with 80 wins," says Jon Jansen. That would mark a losing record and a step back for the Tigers after their first playoff berth in 10 years, largely because? "They don’t have enough bats." While the Tigers boast a "top-five pitching staff," Jansen fears "they will waste it" with poor defense and not enough offense.
Jim Costa agrees, pegging the Tigers for a record of 82-80: "I’m forced to look at this and say, they’re not a playoff team. If you want the rosiest outlook -- hope springs eternal -- the pitching keeps them from collapsing, they do get healthy, A.J. Hinch works his wizardry, keeps them in the hunt and they buy at the deadline."
Problem is, says Costa, the Tigers have more questions than answers, especially with injuries to key players like Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling. Take Spencer Torkelson: "At the end of last season, nobody thought he had much left. And now a lot hinges on whether or not this guy shows as up the right-handed power bat in the top of the order that they drafted him to be, and I just don’t think he’s that player. I’m hopeful, but I don’t think it’s a given."
"I think there are too many questions with this team. Tork is a question, even with a hot spring and a new approach. Colt Keith is a question mark. He’s playing a new position, he had an OPS under .700 last year. We project he’s going to have a better year two, but it’s not a given. Gleyber Torres, I think he’ll hit. He was the worst defensive second baseman in baseball.
"Who is the everyday shortstop? Who’s the primary third baseman when they face right-handed pitching? Who’s playing center field? Is Kerry Carpenter built to play the outfield for the bulk of the season? There are too many questions on this baseball team for us to confidently say, 'Yep, I’m going to bank on another miracle, they’re going to find their way into the playoffs.'"