Detroit Tigers

Stadium: Comerica Park | Manager: Jim Leyland
27-19 Overall | 1st AL Central
Team RankingAVGRHRERA
Tigers.286251513.80
AL Central Division1st1st2nd3rd
American League 1st1st7th5th
Mouse over player name for stats; Click for player info
 
A. Dirks
D. Kelly
M. Tuiasosopo
T. Hunter
A. Jackson
A. Garcia
T. Hunter
A. Dirks
M. Cabrera
D. Kelly
M. Tuiasosopo
J. Peralta
R. Santiago
Rotation
1. J. Verlander
2. A. Sanchez
3. R. Porcello
4. D. Fister
5. M. Scherzer
O. Infante
R. Santiago
P. Fielder
M. Cabrera
DH
V. Martinez
A. Avila
B. Pena
  Bullpen
J. Valverde (CL)
J. Benoit
P. Coke
D. Smyly
E. Reed
D. Downs
J. Ortega
L. Putkonen
O. Dotel
Last Updated: 05/20/2013
 
player is injured   news about this player  
 
Last Five Games
5/24 vs. MIN
A. DirksLF
O. Infante2B
M. Cabrera3B
P. Fielder1B
V. MartinezDH
J. PeraltaSS
A. AvilaC
D. KellyCF
A. GarciaRF
 
5/23 vs. MIN
O. Infante2B
T. HunterRF
M. Cabrera3B
P. Fielder1B
V. MartinezDH
J. PeraltaSS
M. TuiasosopoLF
B. PenaC
A. GarciaCF
 
5/22 vs. CLE
A. DirksLF
T. HunterRF
M. Cabrera3B
P. Fielder1B
V. MartinezDH
J. PeraltaSS
B. PenaC
D. KellyCF
O. Infante2B
 
5/21 vs. CLE
A. DirksCF
T. HunterRF
M. Cabrera3B
P. Fielder1B
V. MartinezDH
J. PeraltaSS
M. TuiasosopoLF
A. AvilaC
O. Infante2B
 
5/19 vs. TEX
O. Infante2B
T. HunterRF
M. Cabrera3B
P. Fielder1B
V. MartinezDH
M. TuiasosopoLF
J. PeraltaSS
B. PenaC
A. GarciaCF

Most Frequent Lineup
 AvgHRRBI
A. JacksonCF.272211
T. HunterRF.313121
M. Cabrera3B.3881457
P. Fielder1B.276941
V. MartinezDH.224222
A. DirksLF.267515
J. PeraltaSS.327420
A. AvilaC.168410
O. Infante2B.321317
 
Notes
  • 29 different lineups used this season.
  • Most frequent lineup used in 11 games.

Other Frequent Lineups
2 Game(s)
O. Infante2B
T. HunterRF
M. Cabrera3B
P. Fielder1B
V. MartinezDH
J. PeraltaSS
M. TuiasosopoLF
B. PenaC
A. GarciaCF
2 Game(s)
A. JacksonCF
T. HunterRF
M. Cabrera3B
P. Fielder1B
V. MartinezDH
J. PeraltaSS
M. TuiasosopoLF
B. PenaC
O. Infante2B
2 Game(s)
A. JacksonCF
T. HunterRF
M. Cabrera3B
P. Fielder1B
A. DirksLF
J. PeraltaSS
A. AvilaC
O. Infante2B
2 Game(s)
A. DirksLF
T. HunterRF
M. Cabrera3B
P. Fielder1B
V. MartinezDH
A. AvilaC
J. PeraltaSS
D. KellyCF
O. Infante2B
2 Game(s)
A. JacksonCF
A. DirksLF
M. Cabrera3B
P. Fielder1B
V. MartinezDH
J. PeraltaSS
A. AvilaC
O. Infante2B
D. KellyRF

 
 
Andy Dirks, #12
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
37.267195155
 
Position Breakdown
OF - 37, DH - 2
News
Tigers outfielder Andy Dirks homered, drove in two runs and finished with two hits Tuesday against the Indians. It was his fourth home run in his last 16 games (14 starts).

Dirks is batting .302 (19 for 63) with a .556 slugging percentage, one triple, two doubles, two stolen bases, four walks, 10 RBI and 11 runs in his last 16 games. His average has gone from .200 to .252 in that span.

Brayan Pena, #55
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
15.3008290
 
Position Breakdown
C - 15
News
Tigers catcher Brayan Pena started consecutive games for the first time this season Thursday against the Twins. It also was his third start in four games.

Pena has been on a roll offensively, hitting safely in four straight games and six of seven. He's batting .423 (11 for 26) with one double, two home runs and seven RBI in his last seven games.

Evan Reed, #57
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERASVK
004.02.2501
 
Rick Porcello, #21
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERABBK
2243.06.28929
 
News
Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello struggled through five innings against the Twins Thursday, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out two in a no-decision.

Porcello had been on a roll in his last four starts, but the poor outing Thursday raised his ERA to 6.28. It was also the first time in five starts that he struck out fewer than five batters. He next faces the Pirates at home Tuesday.

Alex Avila, #13
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
33.168124100
 
Position Breakdown
C - 33
News
Tigers catcher Alex Avila was not in the starting lineup Wednesday against Cleveland right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. Avila won't be starting Thursday against Minnesota lefty Scott Diamond, either, the Detroit News reports. 

That said, Tigers skipper Jim Leyland backed the slumping Avila as the team's everyday catcher. They are not yet ready to annoint Brayan Pena into that role. 

"I don't want to indicate that Alex isn't our catcher," said Leyland. "He is our catcher."

Avila hasn't hit higher than .227 all season and his average hasn't been above .200 since April 11 except for one day. He's hitting just .155 since April 11 with two homers and eight RBI over 84 at-bats. Avila is hitting .053 against lefties but just .198 against righties. 

"I did this with Pudge (Rodriguez) toward the end," said Leyland. "I played him, then sat him out, played him, then sat him out. He didn't particularly like it, but it actually worked pretty good. I'm not saying I'm trying that with Alex, but I have to do something. We'll get through it together, but right now you have to go with your gut. There's no magic formula. I've talked to him, but if one nice conversation could solve all the problems, it would have been solved a while back. But I don't have the answer. The kid is struggling — and as the manager, you feel sorry for him. Trust me."

Ramon Santiago, #39
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
12.1522010
 
Position Breakdown
2B - 5, SS - 3, 3B - 4
Drew Smyly, #33
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERASVK
2029.02.48129
 
Luke Putkonen, #36
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERASVK
103.20.0006
 
Jose Ortega, #56
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERASVK
018.14.3208
 
Darin Downs, #38
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERASVK
0122.12.82025
 
Joaquin Benoit, #53
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERASVK
1021.01.29226
 
News
Tigers closer Jose Valverde will be unavailable for Friday's contest against Minnesota, MLive reports.

Valverde has thrown a full inning each of the last three days. Joaquin Benoit is expected to be first in line to close Friday.

Torii Hunter, #48
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
42.313291211
 
Position Breakdown
OF - 137, DH - 19
News
Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter is out of Friday's lineup, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Although Hunter's season line is still a sharp .313/.360/.412, he has been slumping for a bit over a month. His OPS peaked at 1.048 on April 19, and since then he's hitting just .252/.310/.304. The 37-year-old has had just two days off in that span, so maybe the Tigers hope another will give him a nice reboot heading into the weekend.

Max Scherzer, #37
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERABBK
6062.13.611375
 
News
Tigers starter Max Scherzer, who allowed five runs his last time out, bounced back with a flawless performance as he struck out seven and picked up his sixth win of the season Tuesday night against the Indians.

Scherzer surrendered a sacrifice fly in the first inning for his only damage of the night. He pitched seven scoreless innings after allowing a run in the opening frame. The right-hander permitted one run and allowed two hits over eight innings of work. He struck out seven of the last 12 batters faced in a 5-1 win.

"I definitely had the adrenaline going in that situation," Scherzer said. "You know that's your last inning and you throw the ball as hard as you can."

Scherzer has gone eight innings strong in three of his last four starts. He will make his next start Sunday at home against the Twins. He is 4-0 with a 5.85 ERA in five starts at home.
Doug Fister, #58
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERABBK
5154.23.62943
 
Miguel Cabrera, #24
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
46.3883914571
 
Position Breakdown
3B - 46
News
Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera continued his torrid pace Thursday, homering for the fourth straight game. He has six home runs and 13 RBI over his last four games while going 9 for 15 with five walks.

Cabrera's .391 batting average and .701 slugging percentage lead all major-league players, and his .467 on-base percentage ranks second to Joey Votto. He's been hitless just twice in his last 34 games. He's the early favorite for 2013 AL MVP.

Jose Valverde, #46
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERASVK
0011.00.82510
 
News
Tigers closer Jose Valverde had a landmark appearance en route to his fifth save Thursday against the Twins. It was the first time all season that he worked three days in a row.

Soon after the Tigers called up Valverde from his hurried minor-league tuneup in April, manager Jim Leyland said he wouldn't use him three days in a row, but apparently Valverde has received enough work that it won't be a problem.

True, the Tigers have already said Valverde won't pitch Friday, but few closers get to work four days in a row. At least now you don't have to worry about him missing save opportunities that most every other closer would likely get. Pitching for a competitive Tigers team, Valverde is looking more and more like a true No. 2 reliever in Fantasy.

Matt Tuiasosopo, #18
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
24.34072120
 
Position Breakdown
1B - 5, OF - 19, DH - 1
Victor Martinez, #41
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
1.224112220
 
Position Breakdown
1B - 1, DH - 42
Don Kelly, #32
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
25.19712261
 
Position Breakdown
OF - 25, DH - 5
Avisail Garcia, #34
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
7.3135130
 
Position Breakdown
OF - 7
Octavio Dotel, #20
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERASVK
004.213.5004
 
Injuries
Elbow - 15-day DL. Out until at least early June (Updated - 5/23/13)
News
Tigers relief pitcher Octavio Dotel threw a bullpen session Thursday at the team's spring training complex, MLB.com reports. He has been dealing with elbow inflammation.

It was Dotel's first session on the mound since being shut down after experiencing a setback last week. He hasn't pitched for the Tigers since April 19.

Phil Coke, #40
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERASVK
0313.17.43112
 
Austin Jackson, #14
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
34.272332115
 
Position Breakdown
OF - 34
Injuries
Hamstring - 15-day DL. Out until at least late May (Updated - 5/13/13)
News
Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list Monday, but it appears it could be a bit longer, MLive.com reports. Jackson has not participated in physical activity yet.

"I want it right," Tigers manager Jim Leyland told MLive.com. "We talked about that today: 'Get it right.' I don't want him to come back 85 percent and try to play and then do it again. Try to get it as close to 100 percent as you can. You might not get it to 100 percent. Who knows."

Jackson strained his left hamstring nearly two weeks ago and last week seemed to be on track to make it back when first eligible. He has .272/.333/.371 with two home runs and five stolen bases in 16 plate appearances this season.

Anibal Sanchez, #19
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERABBK
5464.12.381780
 
News
Tigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez was two outs shy of his second career no-hitter Friday. He closed out the win for a complete-game shutout, allowing one hit and three walks in a 6-0 victory against the Twins.

Sanchez(5-4), struck out 12 in 130 pitches, his most of the year. He'll take a 2.38 ERA and 80:17 K:BB ratio into a start in Pittsburgh against the Pirates Wednesday.

Jhonny Peralta, #27
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
43.327244202
 
Position Breakdown
SS - 43
Justin Verlander, #35
Year-to-date Stats
WLIPERABBK
5459.03.662169
 
News
Tigers starter Justin Verlander was given a 2-0 lead to begin the game in Cleveland Wednesday night. By the end of the second inning he gave it back.

Detroit then scored four times for him in the third inning and three more in the fifth for a 9-2 lead. Verlander uncharacteristically gave back some of those runs. He allowed an RBI single to Michael Brantley in the fifth followed by a Carlos Santana two-run homer before the game went into a rain delay.

Verlander came back after the delay to get the final two outs of the fifth inning to qualify for the win and improve to 5-4. The ace gave up five runs on 10 hits and a walk in five innings with nine strikeouts over 110 pitches. His ERA is 3.66.

Verlander has back-to-back poor starts and is 1-2 in his last three outings. He's given up 16 runs over a span of 12 2/3 innings in his last three starts. He next starts Monday against Pittsburgh.
Omar Infante, #4
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
42.321273172
 
Position Breakdown
2B - 42
Prince Fielder, #28
Year-to-date Stats
GAVGRHRRBISB
45.276239410
 
Position Breakdown
1B - 45, DH - 1