The Tigers will likely try to fill the #5 spot in the starting rotation from within, but they are very strong from #1-#4 in the rotation. Here is a look at how the rotation is going to fill out in 2012:

#1: Justin Verlander: 28-year old righty Justin Verlander was the best pitcher in all of baseball last year. He won both the American League Cy Young Award and the American League MVP Award in 2011. Verlander pitched in 34 games (all starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. Verlander led the major leagues in wins (24), WHIP (0.92), innings pitched (251) and whiffs (250) last year. He also led the American League in ERA with a 2.40 mark in 2011. Verlander has now pitched in 199 games (all starts) in his first seven years with the Tigers and he is 107-57 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. I look for Verlander to have another monster year in 2012.

#2: Doug Fister: 27-year old righty Doug Fister came to the Tigers in a deal with the Mariners last year and he pitched really well. Fister pitched in 32 games (31 starts) for the Mariners & Tigers last year and he was 11-13 with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He has now pitched in 71 games (69 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 20-31 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. It will be interesting to see if Fister can pitch like he did last season as it seemed to come out of the blue.

#3: Max Scherzer: 27-year old righty Max Scherzer is a very solid #3 starter for the Tigers. He pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 15-9 with a 4.43 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Scherzer has now pitched in 64 games (all starts) in his first two years with the Tigers and he is 27-20 with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Scherzer has outstanding stuff and this could be the year that his results catch up. Scherzer has now pitched in 110 games (101 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 36-35 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.

#4: Rick Porcello: 23-year old righty Rick Porcello was rushed to the majors 3 years ago and he has done a decent job so far. He pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 14-9 with a 4.75 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Porcello has now pitched in 89 games (all starts) in his first three years with the Tigers and he is 38-30 with a 4.54 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. I look for Porcello to improve his performance in 2012.

#5: Jacob Turner: 20-year old righty Jacob Turner will try to beat only lefties Andy Oliver and Duane Below for the #5 job in the Tigers’ rotation this spring. Turner pitched in 20 games (all starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 4-5 with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. But, he didn’t fare too well in his first shot in the majors. He pitched in 3 games (all starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 0-1 with a 8.53 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. Turner will be the favorite in the competition for the #5 spot in the Tigers’ rotation this spring as he is one of their brightest prospects.

Andy Oliver: 24-year old lefty Andy Oliver pitched in 26 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 8-12 with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. He also worked in 2 games (both starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA and a 1.97 WHIP. Oliver has now pitched in 7 games (both starts) in his first two years with the Tigers and he was 0-5 with a 7.11 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP. Despite his lack of success in the majors, the Tigers know that Oliver has a big time upside.

Duane Below: 26-year old lefty Duane Below pitched in 18 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 9-4 with a 3.13 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He also pitched in 14 games (2 starts) for the Tigers last year in which he was 0-2 with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Below will likely make the Tigers’ bullpen if he doesn’t win the #5 job in the starting rotation.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: B+

66-year old manager Jim Leyland is back to call the shots for the Tigers again in 2011. The Tigers were 81-81 under Leyland last year. Leyland is now 424-387 (52.3%) during the regular season in his first 5 yeas with the Tigers and he is 8-5 (61.5%) in the post season. He is now 1,493-1,518 (49.6%) during his first 19 regular seasons as a major league manager and he is 27-22 (55.1%) during the post season. Leyland led the Florida Marlins to a World Series title in 1997. The Tigers are expecting to make a legit playoff run in 2011, so there will be some pressure on Jim Leyland this year.

The Detroit Tigers have one of the best collection of hard throwers in the pen set up for 2011. 33-year old righty Jose Valverde will be the closer once again in 2011. He pitched in 60 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 2-4 with 26 saves, a 3.00 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Valverde only gave up 41 hits in 63 innings last season while whiffing 63 batters, showing just how nasty he can be. But, he was nibbling too much as he walked 32 batters last year which led to high pitch counts and it got him into some trouble at times. Valverde has now pitched in 439 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 21-23 with 193 saves, a 3.15 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. I think that Valverde will be solid for the Tigers in 2011.

33-year old righty Joaquin Benoit will come into the season as the top set-up man in 2011. Benoit pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 1-2 with 1 save, a 1.34 ERA and a 0.68 WHIP. He only allowed 30 hits and 11 walks in 60 1/3 innings last year while whiffing 75 batters and he was literally unhittable. Benoit has now pitched in 336 games (55 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 31-28 with 9 saves, a 4.47 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. The Tigers are banking on Benoit to pitch like he did last season so that the Tigers can feel confident that they are going to win almost every game when they have a lead going into the 8th inning.

24-year old right Ryan Perry will get most of his work in the 7th inning for the Tigers in 2011. Perry pitched in 60 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 3-5 with 2 saves, a 3.59 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Perry has now pitched in 113 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Tigers and he is 3-6 with 2 saves, a 3.69 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. This might be Perry’s true breakout season because he will likely be pitching with less pressure earlier in games.

26-year old righty Joel Zumaya is going to start the 2011 season on the D.L. He pitched in 31 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 2-1 with 1 save, a 2.58 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Zumaya has now pitched in 171 games (0 starts) in his first five years with the Tigers and he is 13-12 with 5 saves, a 3.05 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has 210 strikeouts in his first 209 2/3 innings in the majors. Zumaya is one of the nastiest relievers in the majors when healthy as he has outstanding stuff, but he just can’t be counted on due to injuries.

24-year old lefty Daniel Schlereth could have a breakout year for the Tigers in 2011. He pitched in 18 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 2-0 with 1 save, a 2.89 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. Schlereth has now pitched in 39 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 3-4 with 1 save, a 4.38 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. He has 41 whiffs but 25 walks in his first 37 innings, so he has good stuff but he needs to start throwing more strikes.

33-year old lefty Brad Thomas will also make the Tigers’ opening day bullpen. Thomas pitched in 49 games (2 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 6-2 with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He has now pitched in 60 games (7 starts) in his first 4 years in the majors and he is 6-5 with a 5.42 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. Thomas has only whiffed 38 batters while walking 47 in his first 93 innings in the majors, so he still has a lot of things to work on.

25-year old righty Robbie Weinhardt comes into the 2011 season as the Tigers’ #12 prospect according to Baseball America. He pitched in 28 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 2-2 with a 6.14 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. He also pitched in 27 games (0 starts) in A+AAA-ball last year and he was 2-1 with 1 save, a 1.64 WHIP and a 0.97 WHIP. Look for him to get another shot with the Tigers in 2011, and to be much better in his second go around with major league hitters.

28-year old righty Enrique Gonzalez pitched in 18 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 0-1 with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He has now pitched in 47 games (18 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 4-8 with a 5.54 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. The Tigers are hoping that Gonzalez is a late bloomer.

28-year old lefty Fu-Te Ni had a rough second year for the Tigers in 2010. Ni pitched in 22 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 0-1 with a 6.65 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He has now pitched in 58 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 0-1 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. The Tigers hope that Ni rebounds for them in 2011.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TIGERS BULLPEN IN 2011: B+

Not too many teams in baseball can match the arms the Tigers will be sending out to start games in 2011. It all starts with 28-year old righty flame throwing Justin Verlander. Verlander started 33 games for the Tigers last season and he was 18-9 with a 3.37 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has started 165 games in his first six years with the Tigers and he is 83-52 with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Verlander has a really good fastball that often times looks faster late in games than in the early innings. He also had a wicked curveball that gets a lot of swings and misses. Maybe this is the year that Verlander wins a Cy Young Award for the Tigers.

26-year old righty Max Scherzer was downright wicked in the second half of last season and the Tigers hope that his success carries over to 2011. He started 31 games for the Tigers last season and he was 12-11 with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Scherzer has now pitched in 77 games (68 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 21-26 with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Scherzer’s stuff is just as wicked as Verlander’s is, so look for him to win between 15-20 games in 2011.

22-year old righty Rick Porcello had a rough sophomore year but he’s still a very talented pitcher. He started 27 games for the Tigers last season and he was 10-12 with a 4.92 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Porcello has started 58 games in his first two years with the Tigers and he is 24-21 with a 4.43 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. I think Porcello is going to be much improved in 2011 as he has good stuff.

32-year old righty Brad Penny will be slotted #4 in the Tigers’ rotation in 2011. He started 9 games for the Cardinals last season and he was 3-4 with a 3.23 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP as he was very effective before an injury ended his year. Penny has now pitched in 288 games (284 starts) in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 108-88 with a 4.11 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. If he can stay healthy in 2011, Penny could wind up being a nice bargain for the Tigers.

28-year old lefty Phil Coke is moving into the Tigers’ rotation in 2011. Coke pitched in 74 games (1 start) for the Tigers last season and he was 7-5 with 2 saves, a 3.76 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He has now pitched in 158 games (1 start) in his major league career and he is 12-8 with 4 saves, a 3.75 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Coke has the stuff to be a big asset for the Tigers at the back end of the rotation. If the rotation gig doesn’t work for Coke, the Tigers could move him back to the bullpen.

23-year old lefty Andy Oliver comes into this season as the Tigers’ #3 prospect according to Baseball America. Oliver started 5 games for the Tigers last season in his first taste of the majors and he was 0-4 with a 7.36 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. He also started 23 games in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 9-8 with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Oliver has great stuff but he’s likely going to need more fine tuning in the minors before he gets another chance in MoTown.

19-year old righty Jacob Turner is the Tigers’ #1 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. Turner pitched in 24 games (23 starts) in A-ball last season and he was 6-5 with a 3.28 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He had 102 whiffs and only 23 walks in 115 1/3 innings last season which shows that he not only has good stuff, but also good composure on the mound. Turner is the kind of pitcher that the Tigers rush to Detroit, so don’t be surprised to see him on the mound at Comerica Park at some point in 2011.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TIGERS STARTING ROTATION IN 2011: B+

37-year old righty swinging Magglio Ordonez will be the starting RF for the Tigers once again in 2011. Ordonez played in 84 games for the Tigers last season and he was 98 of 323 (.303 avg, .852 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 12 homers, 59 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Ordonez is still a great hitter when healthy so that will be the catch for the Tigers in 2011. With DH filled up this season (Victor Martinez), the Tigers are going to probably need to give Ordonez more time off this year. Ordonez had 3 errors in 71 games in RF last season and he showed pretty good range. He still has a strong arm though as he had 7 assists out of RF last year. Look for Jim Leyland to replace Ordonez a lot defensively late in games in an attempt to keep him healthy and frest in 2011.

Ryan Raburn and Brennan Boesch will likely get most of their work in 2011 in LF but they can both also handle RF if needed. Raburn played in 20 games in RF for the Tigers last season and he had 1 error while showing good range. Boesch played in 79 games in RF last season and he had 6 errors while showing slightly above average range. Boesch also had 6 assists as he showed off a rifle in RF.

26-year old righty swinging Casper Wells comes into this season as the Tigers’ #19 prospect according to Baseball America. Wells played in 36 games for the Tigers last season and he was 30 of 93 (.323 avg, .901 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 4 homers and 17 RBIs. He also didn’t make any errors in 29 games in RF last season for the Tigers, but, he showed awful range and didn’t have any assists. Wells also played in 103 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 90 of 387 (.233 avg, .793 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 21 homers, 46 RBIs and 7 stolen bases.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TIGERS RF IN 2011: B