The Detroit Tigers have sent 18 players to the MLB All-Star game since 2011.
The high mark came in 2013 when six Tigers made the roster including, Miguel Cabrera, Torii Hunter, Jhonny Peralta, Prince Fielder, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
With the Tigers having one of the better records in baseball, its reasonable to expect the team to have three or four representatives when the full All-Star rosters are announced.
Let’s take a look at who has the best chances to represent the Tigers in July.
Miguel Cabrera
Statistics: .333 batting average, 11 home runs and 33 runs batted in
Cabrera is still the best hitter in baseball and leads Kansas City’s Eric Hosmer by 200,000 votes in the fan poll. Even if Hosmer surpassed Cabrera in the voting, the 32-year-old slugger is a lock to make the team. After clubbing his 400th career home run in St. Louis, Cabrera has given no signs of slowing down and is on pace to be among all-time leaders in several offensive categories. The only knock on Cabrera is that he’s hitting just .188 with two outs and runners in scoring position, but the first baseman has been a clutch performer throughout his career so expect that number to change soon.
Prediction: Lock
Jose Iglesias
Statistics: .333 BA, 1 HR and 6 RBI
The 25-year-old shortstop is a defensive wizard and should win a fair share of Gold Gloves when he hangs up his spikes, but his defensive prowess is well-known. What wasn’t established was whether or not Iglesias would be a solid big league hitter. Thus far into the season, Iglesias has hushed critics as he’s been very good with the bat. Iglesias has hit the ball hard and struck out just 11 times. The young shortstop is second in fan voting at shortstop, but trails the top spot by more than 300,000 votes. Iglesias should make the team over the likes of Jose Reyes and Jed Lowrie, but health will be key as he’s already missed time due to nagging injuries.
Prediction: Likely
Ian Kinsler
Statistics: .280 BA, zero HR and 21 RBI’s
Kinsler always seems to hit well leading up to the All-Star break before tailing off and struggling down the stretch. The 32-year-old is hitting above his career batting average (.273) and playing gold glove caliber defense at second base. Kinsler and Iglesias make up one of the best middle infield combinations in the majors, but its mind boggling how the second baseman’s power has disappeared. He’s in the midst of the longest home run drought of his career with 189 at-bats without a dinger. On Wednesday, Kinsler snapped an 0-for-22 slump with a double against the Oakland Athletics and had great at-bats against the Los Angeles Angels last night. Kinsler does have 18 multi-hit games this season.
Prediction: Left off
Joakim Soria
Statistics: 2-0, 1.27 earned run average and 15 saves
Soria has been dominant this season. He’s seamlessly slammed the door shut on memories of past closer’s who provided Tigers fans with anxiety attacks. There’s been various relievers that have left fans sweating out late innings as they routinely made big leads seem unsafe. Soria has given fans a glimpse of what they’ve been missing for years: A closer who finishes games without breaking a sweat. The 31-year-old has blown just one save, but the team ended up winning that game in extra innings. It’s almost a certainty that Soria will make the team as long as he doesn’t implode between now and then.
Prediction: Lock
David Price
Statistics: 4-1, 2.97 ERA and 57 strikeouts
It doesn’t seem like Price is having a ‘David Price’ year, but that just means fans are spoiled by his typical dominant seasons. Price is having a very good year despite a couple of bad starts. While he isn’t striking out as many batters as he normally does, Price has a solid walks plus hits per innings average of 1.17. The Tigers are 9-1 in games started by Price this season which means that the left-hander is doing what star players do: Stop losing streaks. One can assume that the veteran will make the roster off his past accomplishments alone, but he’s definitely deserving.
Prediction: Likely
Alfredo Simon
Statistics: 5-2, 2.67 ERA, 38 Ks
Simon is quietly having himself a very good year. Even though he doesn’t strike out many batters, he’s proven to be a very good fourth starter and has been the Tigers most consistent starting pitcher this season. Simon made the 2014 All-Star game with the Cincinnati Reds last season, but its doubtful he’ll make it two straight years. Tigers fans are more interested in seeing what the right-hander does in the second half of the season than they are about the ‘Big Pasta’ making the All-Star game.
Prediction: Left off
There you have it, the Tigers will have a great shot at landing four players on the 2015 MLB All-Star roster.
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