Detroit Tigers 2020 Fantasy Baseball Preview

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Here’s everything you need to know about the 2020 Detroit Tigers from a fantasy perspective:

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Starting Lineup

• Better in OBP formats: Christin Stewart (AL-only)
• Worse in OBP formats: Jonathan Schoop, Austin Romine
• Better than his ADP: C.J. Cron (244), Schoop (337), Cameron Maybin (594)
• Worse than his ADP: Miguel Cabrera (309)
• Bench bat worth rostering: Victor Reyes (Deep AL-only)
• Players most likely to lose a starting spot: Stewart, Jeimer Candelario

Pitching Rotation

• Better than his ADP: Matt Boyd (157), Daniel Norris (595)
• Worse than his ADP: Casey Mize (364)
• Starter least likely to stick in the rotation: Norris (Even if in the rotation, he could follow an opener)
• Non-starter most likely to enter the rotation: Zack Godley

Note: Michael Fulmer is recovering from Tommy John surgery and could return to Detroit’s rotation around August. 

Bullpen

• Projected closer: Joe Jimenez (Job Security: Medium)
• Top backup: Buck Farmer
• Premier holds option: Buck Farmer
• Sneaky holds option: None

Prospects

• Relevant in 2020: Mize, Matt Manning, Isaac Paredes
• Worth a look for 2021 and beyond: Tarik Skubal, Riley Greene
• Don’t believe the hype: Alex Faedo

Other Helpful Fantasy Info

Park Factor: Comerica Park ranks fourth in run conduciveness behind Coors Field, Nationals Park, and Chase Field. It drops to 13th, however, with a 1.032 rating for home runs. Even if it’s a hitter’s venue, that’s more meaningful for the club’s opposition.

Green Light Rating: Low. Detroit has ranked 22nd and 24th in stolen base attempts in two seasons under manager Ron Gardenhire. No Tiger has recorded more than 15 steals in a season since 2015. This likely has more to do with their roster than a deep-rooted philosophy. Only Goodrum swiped double-digit bags in 2019, but Maybin could join him depending on the season’s length and amount of starting reps as a leadoff candidate.

Likeliest 2020 roster moves: Beyond Boyd, Detroit has a rotation of seat-fillers holding the fort down for their rich pool of prospects. Mize and Manning could both debut in 2020. If Fulmer makes a successful recovery from Tommy John surgery, the Tigers could actually end up with an intriguing staff. There’s plenty of turnover potential in the lineup. Each signed to one-year, $6.1 million deal, Cron and Schoop are potential trade candidates. While both infielders are bargains who would open the season with regular reps, either of them could get moved into a platoon or reserve role elsewhere.

Bold Fantasy Prediction: Jimenez puts it all together as a top-10 closer.

Bland Fantasy Prediction: Cron slugs over .500 for the first time in his career and is a viable first baseman in shallow mixed leagues.

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