Tigers 2020 Season Preview
Ready to check out our 2020 Detroit Tigers predictions? The Tigers won only 47 games last season. As a comparison, that put them 53.5 wins back of division-winning Minnesota. That kind of futility is tough to repeat but it looks like thee Tigers are going to give it a go. They can’t be that bad again. Can they?
MLB Tigers Predictions & Handicapping Insight
Last season the Tigers seemed to not really have enough Major League talent to fill out the lineup. Miguel Cabrera is still around but they have filled in some spots with guys who have at the very least shown they can be MLB contributors, or were at some point in their career.
Pitching is still going to be the most critical piece. After Matt Boyd it is hard to have a lot of confidence but perhaps their younger arms stay healthy and establish new highs.
Even if that were to happen this team is still not going to be good, but a dose of respectability for one of the oldest franchises in the league would be a nice start.
2020 MLB Team Previews – Detroit Tigers
- Detroit Tigers 2020 American League Central Odds: +1500
- Tigers 2020 American League Odds: +3500
- Tigers 2020 World Series Odds: +7500
Key Additions:
- Cameron Maybin, OF
- CJ Cron, 1B
- Jonathan Schoop, 2B
- Austin Romine, C
That would be four new starters for the Tigers. Maybin and Romine are not going to move the needle but Cron and Schoop could be offensive improvements. I am still not sure what happened to Schoop from his days in Baltimore to now.
It isn’t enough but Schoop and Cron were both with Minnesota last season so perhaps they have weakened a rival. The duo contributed 48 homers to Minnesota’s record season last year.
Key Losses:
- Matt Moore, SP
- Tyson Ross, SP
Both of these pitchers have had previous success but gave Detroit nothing last season. They were lottery tickets that came up empty. Replacing them with anything better should not be that challenging.
2020 Detroit Tigers Predictions: Projected Lineup:
- Cam Maybin, OF
- Niko Goodrum, SS
- Miguel Cabrera, DH
- CJ Cron, 1B
- Jonathan Schoop, 2B
- Jeimer Candelario, 3B
- Christin Stewart, OF
- Austin Romine, C
- JaCoby Jones, OF
I liked the offseason pickups from Minnesota and think they can perform similarly. That said, unless Cabrera finds something close to his old form this group is going to really struggle to score runs. Guys like Goodrum and Jones are intriguing athletically but have not produced a ton in the Majors. There is no hot shot prospect in this group either.
There are going to be some very ugly nights at the ballpark.
2020 Detroit Tigers Predictions: Projected Rotation:
- Mathew Boyd
- Jordan Zimmerman
- Ivan Nova
- Daniel Norris
- Spencer Turnbull
Boyd was very impressive last season. He was kind of a throw-in when they traded David Price and now he is the best they have. He started striking out guys last season which really came out of nowhere.
Zimmerman will never have to work a day in his life but his contract has been an albatross ever since he signed it. All they are hoping for this season is innings. Nova is an innings eater too.
Norris was a top prospect at one point and Turnbull has had some success in his limited MLB career. Their ceilings are not very high but they can occasionally dominate a lineup.
2020 Detroit Tigers Predictions: Projected Closer:
- Joe Jimenez
2020 Detroit Tigers Projection
Jimenez has proved he can strike batters out over two MLB seasons and that has earned him the closer’s role in Detroit. I am not expecting him to be flush with opportunities but he seems capable of doing the job reasonably well. The rest of the bullpen is pretty young and not very experienced.
They might have five guys who are technically still rookies.
This is once again going to be a terrible team but when you win only 47 games a year ago it feels wrong to forecast dropping even further.
That offense is going to be terrible. Hoping for Cabrera to rebound seems to be just that, hope. He can still make contact but even if he gets on he clutters up the bases.
The pitching is only better by comparison. If we get a season and if Boyd looks good the Tigers should look to deal him as soon as possible to maximize his value.
Relief pitching could be a pleasant surprise. Most of the time they will be pitching in losing ballgames but they might be average, we just might not notice it.
Cleveland might be taking a step back in the division but Chicago has gotten better so that probably evens itself out and doesn’t create an opportunity for the Tigers. Kansas city stinks too but they did last season as well.
2020 Detroit Tigers Predictions: 55 Wins and third in the NL East (Bet Now at any of our reviewed MLB Sportsbooks!)
What do you think of our 2020 Detroit Tigers predictions? Comments are welcome below.
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