Four Tigers That Are Crucial to Detroit’s 2010 Season

The Tigers headed into this season with championship aspirations and a talented roster, but they have also relied heavily on the support of a few Tigers.

The club has recently floundered offensively, allowing more runs than they have scored. Most recently, the Tigers were shut out by the subpar Chicago White Sox.

In terms of pitching, the only bright spot has been the Tiger bullpen. The starting pitching has been the definition of mediocre.

Here are four Tigers that need to continue to carry the team on their backs if they hope to be successful this season.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera has been having an absolutely spectacular season. The Tigers first baseman leads the team in batting average (.339), home runs (18), and RBI (53).

In fact, he is tied with Jose Bautista for most homers in the entire American League and is top-five in both RBI and batting average.

These impressive numbers have kept an offensively unpredictable club in the chase for first place in the American League Central with a consistent bat.

Justin Verlander

Verlander is the face of Detroit Tiger pitching. He leads the mediocre rotation in wins (six), ERA (3.65), and strikeouts (74).

However, Verlander (6-4) helps contribute veteran experience to a relatively young team. He knows what it takes to win in both the regular and post-season from the Tigers’ AL championship run in 2006.

Jose Valverde

Surprisingly, Detroit has the best bullpen in the league this year, and the Tigers owe a lot of that success to arguably the best closer in the AL—Jose Valverde.

Valverde has the most saves thus far in the 2010 season and provides the bullpen with experience and enthusiasm.

Austin Jackson

Jackson is on the fast track to being Rookie of the Year. Cabrera and he are the best contact hitters on the team. Jackson complements Cabrera’s know-how with the hunger of a youngster ready to win a title.

He currently holds the title for most hits on the team with 75, which definitely should be appreciated by a club that is struggling to hit the ball as of late.