MLB Detroit Tigers

Top 5 Candidates To Replace Max Scherzer In Detroit Tigers’ 2015 Rotation

5 Candidates To Replace Max Scherzer In Tigers' Rotation

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Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Although the Detroit Tigers have reportedly not ruled out the chance that they could re-sign Max Scherzer, it is widely expected that he will be pitching somewhere other than the Motor City in 2015. While losing their ace of the past two seasons might hurt, the Tigers will still have David Price, Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez and Rick Porcello. They will, however, need a No. 5 starter. Here are the top five internal candidates for the job.

5. Buck Farmer

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5. Buck Farmer

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Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Buck Farmer may have gone only 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in four games with the Tigers in 2014, but he is a much better pitcher than that. His name appears on many of the Tigers' top prospect lists, and he had a great season in the minors in 2014, posting a combined 12-6 record with a 3.07 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in stops Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A. The 23-year-old is quickly rising through the Tigers' system, so don't rule him out.

4. Drew VerHagen

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4. Drew VerHagen

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Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Drew VerHagen made just one start for the Tigers in 2014, receiving a loss after tossing five innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs against the Cleveland Indians back in July. Although he missed a good chunk of time with a back injury, he went a respectable 6-7 with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP for Triple-A Toledo in 2014. He is not necessarily a strikeout artist, but he could potentially be a guy who could chew up a few innings.

3. Robbie Ray

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3. Robbie Ray

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Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

After looking very sharp in his first two major league starts, Robbie Ray finished the season with a 1-4 record, an 8.16 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP in nine games with the Tigers. Although his 4.27 career ERA in the minor leagues may not inspire much faith, he is still only 23 years old with plenty of time left to improve. He seemed to bounce back in the Arizona Fall League, so look for him to carry some of that momentum into Spring Training.

2. Kyle Ryan

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2. Kyle Ryan

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Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Ryan went a respectable 10-10 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in stops in Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo in 2014. He was also very impressive during the time he spent with the Tigers, going 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in 10.1 innings of work. The one start that Ryan made came against the Chicago White Sox, when he limited to South Siders to five hits and no runs over six innings, giving the Tigers plenty to like.

1. Kyle Lobstein

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Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

1. Kyle Lobstein

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Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Although some of the numbers might not show it, Kyle Lobstein did a very nice job for the Tigers towards the end of the 2014 season, going 1-2 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in seven games including six starts. He thew a couple of very good games for the Tigers, including one in which he limited the world champion San Francisco Giants to just one run over 5.2 innings. The 25-year-old may have made a lasting impression on Detroit.

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