The Detroit Tigers will have their pitchers and catchers report on February 14th, with the first full workout coming on February 19th; with all that, we are less than two weeks away from the start of baseball season. The Detroit Tigers have a real chance to win the American League Central and make the postseason for the first time since 2014. A few months ago, I predicted what their Opening Day rotation may look like as they are currently loaded with pitching at the big league level, and with prospects now, we will take a look and predict what the lineup may look like come Opening Day. This is based on the current roster. The Tigers may also look to add another bat, but it’s unlikely; they even could potentially sign Matt Chapman for a one-year deal, and he’d be a solid piece to the lineup, but for now, he isn’t on the roster, so what could the lineup look like?
Detroit Tigers Projected Starting Lineup
Projections are based on Baseball Reference
1.) CF – Parker Meadows – LH
Meadows made his big-league debut last season for the Tigers, and he slid right into the centerfield spot and looked solid. In 37 games, he slashed .232/.331/.368 with a .699 OPS; he had four doubles, two triples, three home runs, 13 RBI, 19 runs scored, eight stolen bases, and 17 walks. He’s projected to slash .250/.333/.413 with a .746 OPS; he is projected to hit 11 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 30 RBI, 36 runs scored, steal ten bases, and walk 28 times.
2.) RF – Riley Greene – LH
Greene hitting in the two spots suits him. Last season, he slashed .288/.349/.447 with a .796 OPS; he had 19 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs, 37 RBI, 51 runs scored, seven stolen bases, and 35 walks. His season ended early last year due to injury, as he only played in 99 games. He is projected to slash .279/.346/.432 with a .778 OPS, with 21 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs, 47 RBI, 56 runs scored, six stolen bases, and 40 walks.
3.) 1B – Spencer Torkelson – RH
Torkelson broke out last season and put himself on the map as a power bat. He played in 159 games and slashed .233/.313/.446 with a .758 OPS; he had 34 doubles, one triple, 31 home runs, 94 RBI, 88 runs scored, three stolen bases, and 67 walks. He’s projected to slash .236/.317/.422 with a .738 OPS; 28 doubles, one triple, 22 home runs, 71 RBI, 72 runs scored, four stolen bases, and 57 walks. I’d expect he hits 30 home runs again, and with Meadows and Greene in front of him, he’ll likely drive in 100 runs.
4.) DH – Kerry Carpenter – LH
Carpenter, like Torkelson, broke out last season and became the clear number four-hitter for the Tigers lineup. He played in 118 games and slashed .278/.340/.471 with a .811 OPS; he had 17 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, 64 RBI, 57 runs scored, six stolen bases, and 32 walks. He is projected in 2024 to slash .271/.336/.469 with a .809 OPS, with 18 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 58 RBI, 57 runs scored, seven stolen bases, and 33 walks. I’d expect that by staying healthy, he’d exceed those expectations.
5.) SS – Javier Baez – RH
Baez could hit anywhere from five to seven, but I like him in the five spot after a left-handed bat. Last season, he played in 136 games and slashed .222/.267/.325 with a .593 OPS; he had 18 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 59 RBI, 58 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, and 24 walks. He projects to slash .240/.290/.397 with a .688 OPS, along with 21 doubles, three triples, 17 home runs, 66 RBI, 63 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, and 28 walks. The one thing Baez needs to cut down on is his strikeouts and not chase pitches, which we saw he could do last season, and when he did, he was a much better hitter.
6.) LF – Mark Canha – RH
Canha fits nicely in the five or six holes; I personally like him in the six spot. Last year, he played with the New York Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers, and he slashed .262/.355/.400 with a .755 OPS in 139 games; he had 25 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 62 RBI, 51 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, and 49 walks. He projects to slash .251/.351/.396 with a .747 OPS; he also projects to have 22 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 57 RBI, 63 runs scored, nine stolen bases, and 50 walks. He will be a solid bat in this lineup, and he’d be a nice piece to have in the middle of the order.
7.) 2B – Colt Keith – LH
Keith will make the team out of camp after his extension and be on the Opening Day roster, which should excite Tigers fans. Last year with Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo he combined to play in 126 games and slashed .306/.380/.552 with a .932 OPS; he had 38 doubles, three triples, 27 home runs, 101 RBI, 88 runs scored, three stolen bases, and 60 walks. If Keith can continue his success in the big leagues, he could slide right up the lineup, but to start the season, having him in the seven-hole would benefit him as he gets his feet wet with major league pitching.
8.) C – Jake Rogers – RH
I’ve seen Rogers in the nine-hole, but I like having the nine-hitter be someone to turn the lineup over, almost like a second leadoff hitter, so I like Rogers in the eight-hole. Last season in 107 games, he slashed .221/.286/.444 with a .730 OPS; he had 11 doubles, 21 home runs, 49 RBI, 47 runs scored, one stolen base, and 28 walks. He projects to slash .235/.303/.453 with a .756 OPS, with 14 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 50 RBI, 49 runs scored, four stolen bases, and 31 walks. That seems like it’s dead on for what Rogers will produce in 2024.
9.) 3B – Zach McKinstry – LH
McKinstry found a spot with the Tigers in 2023 and fit right in; he played in 148 games and slashed .231/.302/.351 with a .654 OPS; he had 21 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 35 RBI, 60 runs scored, 16 stolen bases, and 44 walks. He is projected to slash .231/.301/.381 with a .682 OPS, with 20 doubles, four triples, 12 home runs, 44 RBI, 56 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, and 40 walks. With the 2023 season he had, the projections make sense, but I could see McKinstry producing a little more than what is being said.
Bottom Line: Detroit Tigers have a real chance to win AL Central
The Tigers are the most complete team in the American League Central with a solid lineup and solid rotation, while the other teams in the division have question marks at one of the two spots, if not both. It’ll come down to health, if this team can stay healthy they should claim the American League Central title.
