The Detroit Tigers built a perennial contender on a foundation of power pitching and a hard-hitting lineup anchored by Miguel Cabrera.
And while Detroit’s World Series dreams will once again lean heavily on those pillars, the organization has tweaked its philosophy to try and push the team over the top.
Despite owning one of the most potent offences in the American League last season, the Tigers opted to restructure their roster with a bigger focus on speed, defence and versatility.
At the centre of Detroit’s new approach is former Blue Jay Rajai Davis. The veteran left fielder has given the Tigers a weapon they severely lacked in recent years: speed and smarts on the basepaths.
The Tigers finished last in all of baseball last season with 35 steals. They already have 40 this season, with Davis leading the way with 16. Paired with the aggressive approach of first-year manager Brad Ausmus, the added speed of Davis and second baseman Ian Kinsler has given Detroit’s big bats a greater chance to succeed.
It’s an approach that has allowed the Tigers to manufacture runs in ways they couldn’t — or wouldn’t — in the past, and an important element to an offence that has fallen off in most categories from a season ago.
Where they sit
The Tigers are first place in the AL Central with a 31-22 record, but they have struggled to string together wins consistently of late and haven’t won a series since sweeping the Red Sox in mid-May.
The bats
After a slow start to the season, reigning AL MVP Miguel Cabrera turned it on in May, batting .380 and driving in an AL-best 34 runs.
The second pillar of Detroit’s offence, designated hitter Victor Martinez, has cemented his status as one of baseball’s toughest outs. He leads the AL with a .335 average and has as many home runs (13) as he does strikeouts.
Ian Kinsler has given the Tigers more stability at the top of the lineup after being acquired for Prince Fielder in the off-season, allowing Austin Jackson and Torii Hunter to drop down in the order.
The arms
The Tigers’ biggest strength is still their starting pitching, even if that hasn’t been the case two months into the season.
Led by Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez, the Tigers have one of the most electric staffs in the AL and can shut down their opponents on any given day.
The bullpen, however, is still the team’s Achilles’ heel, even after acquiring veteran closer Joe Nathan in the off-season. In 22 appearances this season, Nathan has a 5.23 ERA with a 1.306 WHIP and four blown saves.
Who the Jays will see
Anibal Sanchez (Tuesday): Sanchez has been Detroit’s most consistent starter this season. The right-hander hasn’t given up more than three runs in any start and is holding batters to a .183 average. He also hasn’t surrendered a home run yet this season, which should make for an interesting matchup against the league-leading Blue Jays.
Rick Porcello (Wednesday): Porcello is off to the best start of his six-year MLB career. The 25-year-old is 8-2 with a 3.82 ERA and is beginning to utilize his full arsenal of pitches instead of relying primarily on his sinker, which was exposed in previous years due in part to Detroit’s shoddy defence. He has given up two runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts.
Justin Verlander (Thursday): The 2011 AL MVP hasn’t looked like himself this season. Despite a strong outing in his last start against Seattle, Verlander has been hit hard and walking more batters while striking out fewer. He still has ace material, but he has yet to show the dominant form the Tigers have grown accustomed to.
