The Detroit Tigers off a 5-0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays dropped to 6-7 this spring. Today they will face the Pittsburgh Pirates with Tarik Skubal on the mound facing Andrew Heaney for the Pirates. Ahead of today’s game, they trimmed the roster down to 54 players. They optioned right-handed pitchers Matt Manning and Tyler Mattison to Triple-A Toledo. The other move to get the roster number down was right-handed pitcher Ricky Vanasco being reassigned to minor-league camp.
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Matt Manning
Manning this spring has made three appearances with one of those coming as a start. He posted a 12.00 ERA, a 3.00 WHIP, and a 9.0 K/9. He was in the mix for the competition to be a part of the rotation. A rough few outings derailed that. In five starts with Detroit in 2024, he went 0-1. He posted a 4.88 ERA, a 1.55 WHIP, and a 7.5 K/9. At Triple-A Toledo he made 15 appearances with 14 of those coming as starts going 2-5. Posting a 4.28 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and a 9.3 K/9. The former ninth-overall pick has made 50 career starts going 11-15. Recording a 4.43 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and a 6.3 K/9.
Tyler Mattison
Mattison is coming back from the right UCL reconstruction. He hasn’t pitched since 2023 when he was with High-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie. Mattison combined to make 41 appearances with five of those coming as starts. He went 5-1 with a 2.41 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and a 13.7 K/9. Since being drafted by the Tigers in the fourth round of the 2021 draft he has made 68 appearances with six of those coming as starts. He is 12-2 with a 3.26 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and a 13.1 K/9.
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Ricky Vanasco
Vanasco is coming back from right hip labral repair. The Tigers acquired him on July 29, 2024, and re-signed him this offseason. In two appearances last season, he went 1-0. He posted a 0.00 ERA, a 3.17 FIP, a 0.00 WHIP, and zero strikeouts. At Toledo in 11 appearances he went 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and an 11.1 K/9.
