Fantasy Baseball: 2020 Detroit Tigers fantasy preview

2020 Detroit Tigers projected starting rotation

Matt Boyd, LHP (9-12, 4.56 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 238K in 32 starts)
Jordan Zimmerman, RHP (1-13, 6.91 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 82K in 23 starts)
Ivan Nova, RHP (11-12, 4.72 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 114K in 34 starts)
Daniel Norris, LHP (3-13, 4.49 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 125K in 29 starts)
Spencer Turnbull, RHP (3-17, 4.61 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 146K in 30 starts)
Joe Jimenez, RHP (4-7, 4.37 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 9/14 saves)

Boyd is one of the best lefties around, but there is straight garbage behind him. Even Boyd was a disappointment last year after some strong starts in 2018. This may be about as good as it gets though. Boyd’s ERA might be under four if he didn’t have to face the Royals. He is a start by matchup guy in standard leagues. Those strikeouts elevate his draft stock, but the ERA and WHIP can hurt.

We have seen some good out of Daniel Norris as well. Last year was the only season in which Norris had started a full compliment of games. He was brilliant for Detroit in 2016, but has suffered injuries and inconsistency since. The WHIP improvement last year is promising and Norris is still only 26. There is some promise. Enough to take a flier in the late rounds of deeper leagues.

Beyond that, you have to be incredibly desperate, even in deep leagues. Nova led the team in wins last year, but you paid dearly for them in ERA and WHIP. Do you need them that badly? Chances are you don’t.

Jimenez is unproven, but so is most of the rest of the bullpen. Buck Farmer has had the best spring of the bullpen so far. This is a tough situation, and you have to be pretty desperate to go after Jimenez here. Bryan Garcia could be a suitable replacement with his 2.50 minor league ERA and 147 strikeouts in 115 innings if Farmer or Jimenez can’t nail down the job.

Prospects to watch:

The Tigers’ pitching staff is awful, but reinforcements aren’t far off. The top pick of the 2018 draft, Casey Mize, made noise last year by pitching a no-hitter in his first AA start. He is likely ready now, but wont make his major league debut until at least June. The same is true for Matt Manning. Both dominated AA last year and will start the season at AAA. Their ascension to the major leagues could be similar as well.

Mize is probably the more polished and would get the first call, but how prudent is it to hang on to a guy that likely wont help you for half of an already truncated season? If you have a deep bench or are in a dynasty league, go for it. Don’t be afraid to cut in single season leagues if injuries mount. No one knows just how safely the Tigers will play it with their two future stars.

There are 29 more of these where this came from! Sports may be on hold, but we will have baseball sometime this season. We here at FanSided Fantasy are going to make sure you’re prepared!