Everyone knew David Price was going to be the best and most consistent pitcher in the Detroit Tigers' rotation this season, but did anyone expect Kyle Lobstein to be the guy behind him? If this continues to be the case, rumors suggest general manager Dave Dombrowski may consider making a trade.
Detroit's starting rotation ERA ranks 15th in the MLB (4.03) and it's perhaps not what the club was expecting. Dombrowski made trades to fill the vacancies left by Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello and ended up with Alfredo Simon and Shane Greene. The two got off to excellent starts, but the inconsistencies have shown as of late.
"There's no longer anything intimidating regarding the Tigers' rotation. They'll need to trade for more starting pitching," writes Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press.
"The potential glut of available starting pitching on the trade market (Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto and Oakland lefty Scott Kazmir immediately jump out from the pack as 2016 free agents) could lessen the cost for suitors, such as the Tigers.
"It wouldn't surprise anyone if there is another blockbuster deal awaiting the Tigers as the nonwaiver trade deadline approaches."
Simon is 0-1 with an 8.68 ERA in his last two starts against the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox (after starting 4-0 with a 1.65 ERA in his first four outings) while Greene is 0-2 with a 9.95 ERA in his last four starts (after starting 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA in his first three outings).
Additionally, Anibal Sanchez is off to a terrible start in 2015. He's 2-4 with a 5.44 ERA and 1.279 WHIP in his first seven trips to the mound.
Price's lone glaring slip-up came on Apr. 22 against the New York Yankees, where he gave up eight earned runs on 10 hits and three walks in just 2 1/3 innings, which is a large reason his ERA is a 3.30 and not much lower.
As for Lobstein, he's had impressive outings against the Yankees, White Sox and Cleveland Indians up until this point and is 3-2 with a 3.00 ERA in five starts. He hasn't been a lights-out starter, but his performance up to date is likely more than the Tigers initially expected.
If these inconsistencies continue, particularly with Sanchez, Greene and Simon, the Tigers may need to look outside the organization to keep themselves atop the competitive AL Central. Cueto and Kazmir will be free agents after the season and they're almost guaranteed to hit the trade market if the Reds and Athletics fall out of the postseason discussion by July. Jordan Zimmermann and Ian Kennedy could also be options depending on what the Nationals and Padres decide to do.
However, if Detroit were to execute a trade for any of these starters, they'd be in the same boat they will be with Price at the end of the year. They'll potentially have to work on coaxing two elite starters to stay, and doing that with one is already a difficult enough task.
There's still a lot of time, but Dombrowski is probably considering a backup plan if the rotation can't get it together by mid-season.