Undefeated Tigers Lineup Looks Even More Lethal Than Expected

All those concerns and uncertainties seem downright ridiculous about now.

First it was the faulty bullpen. Later it became the health and possible decline of the starting rotation. Then, we all wondered about the vitality of their two best offensive players. Finally, who might supplement the offense if those two truly did regress in the batter’s box?

But as the first week of regular season games nears its end, all of those questions surrounding the Detroit Tigers are on the back burner. Starting the year with five consecutive victories has a way of doing that.

While all parts of the club have contributed to this 5-0 rush out of the gate, the offense has looked particularly menacing and has put the American League on alert with numbers that are downright ridiculous.

"

#Tigers offense has been so impressive - 38R in 5G, 10+H ea. gm, 67 total, 7-8-9 hitters have reached 33 times in 67PA in the 5G....

— Dan Dickerson (@Dan_Dickerson) April 12, 2015"

"

Man, the Tigers offense is straight disrespectful.

— Daniel Holmes (@Holmes_Dan) April 12, 2015"

Through Detroit’s sweep of the Minnesota Twins to start the season and its first two games against the Cleveland Indians, the offense leads the majors in runs scored (39), hits (67), triples (4), batting average (.364), OBP (.433) and OPS (.971). They are second in the majors in walks (24) and slugging percentage (.538).

The attack is neither top heavy nor relying solely on Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. It is deep, starting with Anthony Gose at the top through Jose Iglesias in the ninth spot.

Of the team’s regular starters, only J.D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos are hitting lower than .308. But Martinez has two home runs and Castellanos has drawn four walks, so even they are finding ways to contribute.

Picking out the hitters who have gotten off to blazing starts is as easy as closing your eyes and pointing in any direction.

Iglesias is hitting .600/.625/.667 (9-for-15) with a 1.292 OPS as the No. 9 hitter.

Ian Kinsler is hitting .455/.480/.591 (10-for-22) with a 1.071 OPS and a team-high seven RBI from the No. 2 spot in the order.

“I'm in a great position,” Kinsler told Jason Beck of MLB.com after Saturday’s win in which he went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI. “I have guys with speed in front of me and I have Miggy behind me. I might have the best position in A.L.”

Anthony Gose, who the Tigers traded for in November, is hitting .450/.450/.800 (9-for-20) with a 1.250 OPS, two doubles, a triple and a home run from the leadoff spot.

Cabrera is at .429/.500/.476 (9-for-21) with a .976 OPS, three walks and one strikeout as the No. 3 hitter.

The list goes on, as you can imagine.

It has not just been the offense pushing the Tigers to their undefeated start, though. The rotation has been the best in the majors with its 0.79 ERA through 34.1 innings, a total that is second in the majors.

David Price has been every bit the ace this team needs, having not allowed an earned run in two starts (14.1 innings). Shane Green, who was acquired in a trade involving the New York Yankees this past offseason, also did not yield an earned run in his eight-inning Tigers debut, and neither did Anibal Sanchez in his first 6.2 innings.

Of course, in no way is this division clinched. There are still valid concerns with the Tigers, including some that were mentioned early on in this space.

Former ace Justin Verlander and reliever Bruce Rondon both opened the season on the disabled list. Verlander is expected to throw a full bullpen Sunday, which could mean he might be ready to return by next weekend. However, Rondon is backing off of his throwing program for now because of lingering soreness in his right bicep.

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Closer Joe Nathan also hit the DL on Tuesday with a flexor strain. He is eligible to return to the bullpen April 22, but it's unclear if he will be ready by then.

“He probably won't pick up a ball for somewhere in the neighborhood of a week," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told reporters (H/T MLive.com) Friday.

The injuries to Nathan and Rondon, who was expected to be the team’s setup man before he ended up being a victim of Tommy John surgery before the 2014 season, are significant because the bullpen is still a huge problem for the Tigers, as it has been for a few seasons past.

The relievers have the second-fewest strikeouts in the league (10) and their 3.38 ERA is 20th. On Saturday, the Tigers took a two-run lead into the bottom of the eighth inning, but the bullpen blew it before the offense picked it up with a four-run ninth. Three relievers combined to pitch the final two innings for Detroit and allowed three runs on three hits, walked two and struck out one.

Still, the Tigers won. And that is what matters.

The offense will cool down, and sometime in the immediate future, the rotation will give up another earned run. But what the Tigers have done in this first week is remind everyone that they are still the best team in the AL Central, regardless of their issues.

All quotes, unless otherwise specified, have been acquired first-hand by Anthony Witrado. Follow Anthony on Twitter @awitrado and talk baseball here.