Are Tigers' Hot Bats Good Enough to Make Deep Run Despite Pitching Drop-Off?

In a way, the Detroit Tigers' 2014 season has been like each of the past three. No, they may not be all alone atop the American League Central like they were for much of 2011 through 2013, but the club once again is in position to make the playoffs for a fourth straight time. What is different, though, is how the Tigers have gotten to this point this year.

Over their run of success, the Tigers have become known primarily for perennial MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera and their elite starting pitching, a rotation that is both talented and deep and filled with big names like Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, as well as underrated arms like Anibal Sanchez and Rick Porcello.

Oh, and they went and traded for former Tampa Bay Rays ace David Price in July, too, giving them three Cy Young-winning starters. The last three Cy Young winners, in fact:

Here's the thing, though: The 2014 version of the Detroit Tigers so far has been driven more by their bats than their arms. Monday's key victory over the Kansas City Royals—the team they're neck and neck with in the division—was yet another example.

Detroit's 9-5 win was marked by an offensive outburst early in the game, as the Tigers tallied eight runs by the end of the third inning. That was followed by the team holding on with a solid, but unspectacular, outing from Verlander, who has a 4.82 ERA after allowing four earned runs over seven innings Monday.

Overall, the Tigers rank second in the majors in runs scored but—wait for it—23rd with a very uncharacteristic 4.01 team ERA. By comparison, the 2013 club ranked ninth with a 3.61 ERA, as did the 2012 crew with its 3.75 ERA.

Here's the rundown in table form, which makes the drop-off even more apparent:

SEASON	TEAM ERA	MLB RANK
2014	4.03	23
2013	3.61	9
2012	3.75	9

While the bullpen continues to be shaky (4.22 ERA), the rotation (3.95 ERA) has been nearly as responsible for the dip despite the name-brand starters. Much of that can be traced to Verlander's continued struggles, as well as the injured Sanchez, who led the Junior Circuit with a 2.57 ERA in 2013 but has missed the past month with a strained pectoral muscle.

That has forced the Tigers to rely much more on their offense than they have needed to in the past.

"

Detroit Tigers notes: Is ankle causing Miguel Cabrera's power drought? - Detroit Free Press http://t.co/qEJ2Ba61Ko

— Detroit Tigers News (@TigersAllNews) September 8, 2014"

What's especially noteworthy about this development, however, is that such a shift has taken place during a season in which Cabrera, the two-time reigning AL MVP, is having his "worst" campaign in years. Undoubtedly, some of that is due to Cabrera undergoing core surgery last offseason and being hampered by a bone spur in his ankle that cropped up before the All-Star break, per Chris McCosky of The Detroit News.

"We hope [Cabrera] continues to feel better but we will still monitor it closely," manager Brad Ausmus said after he had to take Cabrera out early Sunday after he scored from first on a double. "We don't want it to become a nuisance again."

The good news is Cabrera just put together a white-hot stretch, earning co-AL Player of the Week honors thanks to a recent spike in his power that has been down for much of the season. While still very good, his .206 isolated power (ISO) represents a career low over a full season by a rather large margin.

SEASON	ISO
2014	.206
2013	.288
2012	.277
2011	.241
2010	.294
2009	.223
2008	.245
2007	.245
2006	.229
2005	.238
2004	.219
2003*	.201
	*Played only 87 games as a rookie

The other good news? Cabrera hasn't had to be his usual best-hitter-in-baseball self this year. That's because Detroit's offense is deeper and more dynamic.

It's also because a pair of Martinezes, Victor and J.D., are in the middle of career years. The 35-year-old Victor is hitting a Cabrera-like .337/.407/.575 and already has a career-best 30 home runs in the kind of campaign that should garner some MVP votes—even as a designated hitter.

J.D., meanwhile, has been arguably the biggest scrap-heap success story of 2014. After being cut in March by the Houston Astros—yes, the team that was coming off three straight seasons with 106-plus losses—he was picked up by Detroit, where he's been able to put his reworked swing to use, as Tyler Kepner of The New York Times writes.

Batting .305/.349/.538 with 19 homers in only 105 games upon being called up in late April, he has helped lengthen the heart of a dangerous lineup.

And the batting order does damage throughout, thanks to second baseman Ian Kinsler (.279 average, 91 runs, 37 doubles, 13 homers, 15 steals), ageless right fielder Torii Hunter (.281 average, 15 homers, 75 RBI) and Rajai Davis, whose elite speed (32 steals) brings an element that had been missing.

Will this new formula do the trick down the stretch and into October, if Detroit gets there?

Well, as close as the Tigers came under the old pitching-dominated approach, including two AL Championship Series sandwiched around a 2012 trip to the World Series, they have yet to win it all.

There's always the possibility that the starters, especially Scherzer and Price, will turn it up a notch from here on out and in the playoffs, joining in with this deep, dynamic offense that has been carrying the team for much of the year.

But if the arms remain inconsistent and enigmatic, at least compared to previous seasons, perhaps a different tactic—a more offensive one, if you will—finally can get it done.

Statistics are accurate as of Sept. 9 and come from MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com, except where otherwise noted.

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