Tigers by the numbers: 10 stats that explain an up-and-down start
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Here are 10 key numbers that explain the good and bad of the Tigers so far:
10: A run differential that leads the AL Central
Entering Tuesday, the Tigers have scored 132 runs and allowed 122 runs. Their plus-10 total made them, as of Monday afternoon, the only AL Central team with a positive run differential.
52: Detroit’s rate of taking extra bases
Last season’s Tigers team was one of the best in recent history at taking extra bases — think going first-to-third on a single or scoring from first on a double. …….This year’s Tigers are following suit, with a 52 XBT% that still tops the league.
.281: Detroit’s average with runners in scoring position
There’s a tendency among the fan base to decry the Tigers’ lack of production with runners in scoring position. Funny thing is, those complaints are not totally rooted in reality.
Although the production might not always come in the game’s biggest moment, the Tigers have fared just fine with runners in scoring position. Their .281 average in such situations ranks fifth in the league.
-14: An Outs Above Average total that ranks last
This is a rough one, but it’s true. Entering Tuesday, the Tigers had the worst Outs Above Average total in baseball, a stat that reflects the poor defense and generally sloppy play
23.7: Detroit’s Bullpen Whiff%
1.104: Opponents’ OPS against Tarik Skubal the third time through the order
Can Tarik Skubal capture a third consecutive Cy Young Award? Well, he’s six starts in and has a 2.72 ERA. His FIP is a stellar 1.97 and suggests he’s actually been somewhat unlucky. If there’s any knock on perhaps the best pitcher on the planet, it’s his ability to go deep into games.
Yes, Skubal threw the fourth-most innings of any pitcher in baseball last season. But while fans always want more, opposing hitters have had a lot of success against Skubal the third time through the order this season. That third-time OPS is a jumpscare-inducing 1.104. Hitters are 13-for-20 facing Skubal a third time. Some of that — like the Brewers attacking him with papercuts last week — does seem like poor luck. Skubal himself didn’t seem too concerned about these numbers, chalking it up to a small sample and pointing to his track record. Although some third-time-through penalty does exist, the Tigers’ ace still held opponents to a .233 average and .638 OPS in those situations last season.
It would be foolish to doubt Skubal. It’s also a reality that he has to be better deeper into games if he wants to win Cy Young Award No. 3.
78.6: The contact percentage for Tigers hitter
Detroit ranks fifth among all MLB teams in contact rate. …The Tigers ranked 16th with a 76.7 contact rate last season.
24.3: Riley Greene’s chase rate
.836: Spencer Torkelson’s OPS
Seven days ago, Spencer Torkelson had a .566 OPS.
2.0: Kevin McGonigle’s bWAR