The Cleat Sheet is a CliffsNotes collection of in-depth statistical tidbits about current Tigers players.
Tigers hitters have chased 47% of pitches out of the strike zone with two strikes this season. That is the highest percentage in the major leagues.
Left-handed batters are hitting only .117 against Francisco Liriano this season, best among pitchers with at least 50 innings. That might make him a trade target for a contender’s bullpen to get lefties out.
Catcher James McCann is feeling a little frisky this season. He has back picked runners 20 times this year, the 3rd highest total in the major leagues.
The Tigers can hit a fastball. They have a line-drive rate of almost 27% on pitches of 94 MPH or greater since the start of last year, the best in baseball.
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Nicholas Castellanos has 14 home runs on breaking pitches since the start of last season, fifth-most in the major leagues.
JaCoby Jones has struck out in over 50% of his at-bats against right-handed pitchers over the last 20 games, highest among major league hitters with at least 31 plate appearances.
Tigers relievers have a strike rate of just 60% this season with runners in scoring position, lowest in major league baseball.
Jordan Zimmermann has a strike rate of nearly 77% over the last 30 days against right-handed batters, highest in the major leagues among pitchers with at least 10 innings pitched.
Opponents are hitting .292 against Tigers starters with runners in scoring position since the start of the 2016 season, the highest average in the major leagues.
Opponents are hitting .455 against Jordan Zimmermann on the first pitch of at-bats since the start of the 2016 season, 3rd worst among American League pitchers with at least 161 innings pitched.
Outfielder Victor Reyes has been overmatched by fastballs recently. He has swung and missed at nearly 49% of pitches 94 MPH or greater over the last 30 days, the worst in the major leagues.
Of Niko Goodrum’s 34 two-strike hits this season, 22 of them have gone for extra bases. That’s best among hitters with at least 150 plate appearances.
