The Detroit Tigers are in first place, but they are looking to put a kill on the A.L. Central division by adding another reliever to their bullpen. Javier Lopez of the San Francisco Giants has now popped up on the Tigers radar and it sounds as though talks are intensifying.
The Tigers' bullpen has purred in 2013. Their relievers' 3.99 ERA is the seventh worst in baseball. They are right behind teams like the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox; aka non-contenders. Though they only have blown nine saves, their bullpen has only recorded a total of 22 so their save conversion rate is not impressive. The closer issue in Detroit appears solved as the Tigers acquired Jose Veras at the beginning of the week. However, they are also in need of late-inning specialists and this is where Lopez can give a hand.
Originally, Lopez surfaced in trade rumors where he would land in Boston as the Red Sox were also looking for bullpen help. In 2013, Lopez is 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA in 25.1 innings pitched. He has recorded 27 strikeouts for a 9.6 K/9 Ratio. More impressive, Lopez is holding lefties to a .172 batting average. He's faced 71 left-handed batters in 2013 and has only surrendered 11 hits.
The Tigers' golden arm in the bullpen so far in 2013 has been Drew Smyly, who has also shut down the competition. He is 4-0 with a 1.77 ERA. Smyly has pitched 61 innings, while striking out 65 batters as opponents are only hitting .194. Joaquin Benoit, the interim closer, is expected to return to his setup role with the Tigers' acquisition of a true closer in Veras. In 2013, Benoit has impressed and is 10 for 10 in save opportunities, while pitching 43 innings, with 52 strikeouts and a 1.47 ERA.
Everybody else in the Tigers' bullpen has an ERA over 3.00. Phil Coke, the southpaw who had been trusted to shutdown lefties is 0-5 with a 5.46 ERA in 34 appearances this season. Lopez could help fill this void, becoming an integral part of a bullpen that needs help ,as the 60-45 Tigers look to build on their 2.5 lead they hold over the second place Cleveland Indians.
