Detroit Tigers matchups vs Cleveland Guardians pitchers in AL Central
On “Days of Roar,” Cleveland Guardians beat writer Paul Hoynes breaks down the starting pitchers vs. the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central showdown.
CLEVELAND — The Detroit Tigers have 15 players training at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, home of their Triple-A affiliate.
All of them are ready to help the Tigers in the big leagues.
One of them might be called up soon.
The Tigers haven’t listed a starting pitcher for the series finale Thursday, Sept. 25, against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, which could open the door for right-hander Troy Watson to make his MLB debut. The 28-year-old is the only pitcher in the “stay-back group” stretched out as a starter.
Here are the 15 players, in the order provided by the Tigers:
“We have a stay-back group that’s working out in Toledo,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch before Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Guardians in the first of three games in the series. “There’s a sizable group that’s in Toledo working out every day.”
Of the eight pitchers, Horn and Hanifee aren’t eligible to join the Tigers until the postseason because they’re stuck in the 15-day option cycle. Sommers isn’t free from the option cycle until Friday’s series opener against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Pitchers optioned to the minor leagues can’t return for 15 days.
In 2025, Watson posted a 2.75 ERA with 37 walks and 97 strikeouts across 104â…” innings in 36 games (14 starts) for Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. He transitioned from the bullpen to the rotation in his final four games in Erie, then joined Toledo in late August as a full-time starter.
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Watson made 10 starts for the Mud Hens, registering a 3.12 ERA with 15 walks (7% walk rate) and 42 strikeouts (19.7% strikeout rate) across 52 innings. His fastball averaged 94.6 mph and maxed out at 97.5 mph, while his sweeper generated a 37.2% whiff rate.
He throws five pitches: fastball, sweeper, cutter, sinker and changeup.
The Triple-A season ended Sunday.
To add Watson, the Tigers would need to open spots on both the 26-man and 40-man rosters. The other seven pitchers in the “stay-back group” are already on the 40-man roster.
The Tigers’ 40-man roster is currently full.
The Tigers acquired Watson in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays in August 2024 for cash considerations. He has improved his command significantly since joining the Tigers.
The Blue Jays selected Watson in the 15th round (No. 446 overall) in the 2018 draft out of Northern Colorado. The Colorado native owns a 4.02 ERA over 396â…“ innings in the minor leagues, including a poor 5.39 ERA in 137 innings in Triple-A.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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