| Jason Beck- MLB.Com Until the Tigers’ late-season run to a Wild Card berth and an ALDS battle with Cleveland, their last postseason experience was a three-game sweep to the Orioles in the 2014 ALDS. Their starting lineup in the final game of that series featured two pure left-handed bats against O’s right-hander Bud Norris: Alex Avila batting sixth and Don Kelly at the bottom of the order. The rest of the lineup had five right-handed batters and two switch-hitters. Compare that to the hitting balance the Tigers had a decade later in Game 5 of the ALDS in Cleveland against lefty (and former Tiger) Matthew Boyd. Detroit had three left-handed hitters — Riley Greene and rookies Parker Meadows and Trey Sweeney — along with switch-hitting Wenceel Pérez and five right-handed batters. Many of the righties were platoon options, fitting manager A.J. Hinch’s mix-and-match approach. For years, the Tigers tried to add balance to a predominantly right-handed lineup, though having formidable right-handed bats like Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez, Ian Kinsler and Nick Castellanos helped lessen the urgency. When the Tigers retooled their lineup around younger players and short-term signings, they couldn’t exactly be picky, though having switch-hitters Jeimer Candelario and Willi Castro helped. Now, the balance has turned. Three of the Tigers’ top four position players by bWAR this past season are left-handed hitters, as are three of the six Tigers to play in at least 100 games in the regular season. The only right-handed hitter to get 400 plate appearances was outfielder Matt Vierling.While the Tigers’ late-season surge included an offensive rejuvenation, left-handed pitching still gave Detroit fits. Tigers hitters slashed .241/.307/.389 from Aug. 1 to the end of the regular season, for a .696 OPS that ranked seventh-highest among AL teams. However, they hit just .212/.296/.335 against left-handed pitching in that span, a .631 OPS that ranked fifth-lowest in the league, compared with a .719 OPS off righties that ranked sixth-best. They performed better off lefties in the smaller sample size of the postseason, helped by four hits off Astros closer Josh Hader, but they produced one run on eight hits in 13 1/3 innings off Guardians southpaws, led by Boyd’s 6 2/3 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts. It goes to figure, then, that Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris made a right-handed bat an offseason priority, a search that should pick up during next week’s Winter Meetings. They don’t necessarily need an everyday player to fill that role, but they need someone with the kind of bat to restore balance and give them options. The Tigers, who have been diligent about building their offense from within their system, have to pursue the market because their system has produced more left-handed hitters than righties in recent years, partly through Detroit’s drafting, partly through player development. Spencer Torkelson’s struggles have played a role, though he hit nearly as well against lefties in a smaller sample size this past season (.798 OPS over 89 plate appearances) than he did during his 31-homer season of 2023 (.829 OPS over 161 plate appearances). Outfield prospect Justice Bigbie’s growing pains at Triple-A Toledo also factored in. Torkelson, the top overall pick in the 2020 Draft, is one of just four right-handed hitters the Tigers have drafted with their top selection since 2010, joining Derek Hill (23rd overall in 2014), James McCann (76th overall in 2011) and Castellanos (44th overall in 2010). They’ve gotten Major Leaguers out of later rounds, such as Dillon Dingler, Ryan Kreidler, Andre Lipcius and Grayson Greiner.Meanwhile, the Tigers have selected left-handed hitters to begin their last three Drafts and four of their last six, including Greene (third overall in 2019), Jace Jung (12th overall in 2022), Max Clark (third overall in 2023) and Bryce Rainer (11th overall this past summer). Parker Meadows was a second-round pick in 2018. Colt Keith was a fifth-rounder in 2020. Kerry Carpenter lasted until the 19th round in 2019. It’s not exactly a surprise, because impact left-handed hitters are usually at a premium, but the Tigers have simply had better fortune lately developing them. Clark is the Tigers’ No. 2 prospect behind starter Jackson Jobe, according to MLB Pipeline, followed by another left-handed hitter and 2023 first-round pick, infielder Kevin McGonigle, then Rainer. Detroit’s highest-ranked right-handed batter is switch-hitting catcher Thayron Liranzo at No. 6. The only other in the top 10 is infielder Hao-Yu Lee at No. 8. Short and long term, the need for balance is clear. |
| IN CASE YOU MISSED IT• The MLB Pipeline crew picked one Rookie of the Year candidate for each team. Their pick for the Tigers, well, isn’t a surprise. • The Pipeline folks also tackled the question of whether top catching prospect Liranzo has what it takes to be a Major League catcher. • Great analysis from colleague Mark Feinsand on what this week’s two-year deals for free agents Frankie Montas and Boyd from the Mets and Cubs, respectively, mean for this year’s free-agent pitching market. The Tigers have done good work the past couple offseasons finding pitchers on one-year deals and helping unlock their better form. TICKETS |
