Detroit Tigers: Scouting Report on Atlanta

Sep 27, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) waves to the crowd after being relieved in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Tigers players head to Atlanta to wrap up the final complete series regular season for three games against the National League East club. Here’s everything you need to know.

Detroit Tigers fans ultimately didn’t get to see the team take on Cleveland in the rain on Thursday afternoon. With a potential make-up game set for Monday, the Tigers will head south.

The team will travel to Atlanta for three games against the National League East franchise, who currently sit in the division cellar.

Atlanta entered play on Friday with a 65-92 record and a -132 run differential that is only better than the run differential of four franchises.

This may play to Detroit’s advantage as fellow Wild Card contenders Baltimore and Toronto have to deal with the Yankees and Red Sox in their respective final series.

Per a tweet from Detroit’s public relations Twitter account, Daniel Norris, Jordan Zimmermann and Justin Verlander will start for the Tigers. Matt Wisler will oppose Norris, while Aaron Blair will take on Zimmermann. Julio Teheran will wrap things up in a battle of aces against the Tigers own resident ace in Verlander.

Here’s what you should know about Atlanta’s team heading into the final, full regular season series of the year.

Mar 13, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) looks on in the second inning in the spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Position Players

Compared to the other 29 teams in Major League Baseball, Atlanta isn’t doing so well from a statistical standpoint—at least on offense.

Freddie Freeman and company ranked second to last in baseball in runs scored and last in ISO. They also check in third to last in wRC+ and WAR, while ranking 27th in wOBA.

The current roster is led by Freeman (6.2 WAR, 156 wRC+, .982 OPS) and Matt Kemp (122 wRC+, 11 home runs and 34 RBI in 52 games for Atlanta).

Outside of the duo, Nick Markakis and Ender Inciarte, the lineup is filled with young or unproven Major League commodities and short-term pieces.

This is mainly due to an ongoing effort to rebuild the franchises. Because of this, a number of key veterans have been dealt. In fact the Tigers actually employ three of them in Justin Upton, Cameron Maybin and Erick Aybar.

Plenty of Players Traded

Since the end of last season, Atlanta has dealt nearly an entire roster’s worth of players for prospects. These players include Andrelton Simmons, Maybin, Shelby Miller, Christian Bethancourt, Jhoulys Chacin, Jason Grilli, Kelly Johnson, Bud Norris, Lucas Harrell, Dario Alvarez, Hunter Cervenka, Aybar, Jeff Francoeur and Gordon Beckham.

Despite so many veterans heading out the door and the team rebuilding, Atlanta still relying on a number of players in and around the age of 30. Brandon Snyder (29), Tyler Flowers (30), Adonis Garcia (31), Emilio Bonifacio (31), Kemp (31), Markakis (32), Anthony Recker (32) and Blake Lalli (33) all occupy spots on the active roster.

Atlanta does have a number of promising younger players in Inciarte (25), Mallex Smith (23) and Dansby Swanson (22), but most of their position players are more veteran place holders.

Outside of Freeman, Markakis, Kemp and Garcia, no batter has more than 42 runs batted in.

Sep 16, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Ian Krol (46) and catcher James McCann (34) celebrate after defeating the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Tigers won 7-4 in twelve innings. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

The Pitching Staff

Atlanta’s pitching staff is very similar to the offense in the sense that there is one key player (Julio Teheran) being built around for the future.

However, there aren’t as many veteran place holders to be found.

Of all the pitchers to make a start for Atlanta this year and still hold a roster spot, only two are over the age of 25.

With the youth has come growing pains. Despite the presence of Teheran, Atlanta’ starters own the fifth-highest SIERA in the league at 4.64. Their 1.38 home runs allowed per nine innings is currently the sixth-highest rate in the league. Lastly, in terms of xFIP, the starting staff in Atlanta rank fourth to last in the Majors.

Bullpen

As it happens, two former Tigers play key roles in Atlanta’s bullpen. Jim Johnson saved 18 games entering Thursday, and owns a 2.82 FIP and a 1.2 WAR. Ian Krol, acquired in the Maybin swap, has pitched to a sparkling 2.85 SIERA. The ex-Detroit reliever has also struck out 9.77 batters per nine innings.

Outside of those two, Mauricio Cabrera (2.88 FIP) and Chaz Roe (1.77 FIP), there are some question marks. Chris Withrow’s 3.58 ERA looks solid, but his 4.89 FIP tells a different story. Fellow relievers John Gant, Ryan Weber and Tyrell Jenkins all have FIP numbers of 4.50 or higher.

At first glance, the relievers in Atlanta have a respectable 4.0 WAR on the season. That’s good for 13th in the league. However, a closer look at the numbers reveals that the relief corps may not be as effective.

As a whole, Atlanta’s 4.32 bullpen xFIP is tied for the fifth-worst mark among Major League franchises. Additionally, the relievers on the National League East club own the seventh-highest WHIP in baseball, not to mention the fourth-highest SIERA.

Atlanta’s relief pitchers also hand out 4.10 walks per nine innings. Only four teams in the Major League allow more.