DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers made a stunning move on Friday to finalize their starting rotation heading into the regular season.
Before spring training, everybody knew the Tigers had six starting pitchers battling for five rotation spots. Tarik Skubal, Kenta Maeda, and Jack Flaherty were locked into the top three spots, leaving Matt Manning, Casey Mize, and Reese Olson to compete for the final two.
Mize has missed nearly two entire seasons due to Tommy John and back surgeries, while Olson made a good first impression with 103.2 strong innings as a rookie last year.
If anything, Manning seemed like the safest choice of the three to make the roster, but on Friday, he was optioned to Triple-A Toledo.
Manning made some significant changes to his repertoire this offseason, adding a harder slider and improving his fastball velocity. His spring numbers were excellent: a 3.38 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts in 16 innings.
But it wasn’t enough.
Mize also showcased improved velocity, and he posted a 2.35 ERA this spring despite an elevated 1.24 WHIP and just 14 strikeouts in 15.1 innings.
Olson, just like last season, was rock solid all spring. He owns a 3.68 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and has struck out 14 batters in 14.2 innings.
Manning did allow six homers this spring, including three on March 9 and two on Thursday. He’ll certainly find his way back to the Tigers at some point this season -- probably sooner rather than later. But for now, he’s the odd man out.
