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5 Detroit Tigers Who Need To Step Up In July

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Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sitting in third place in the AL Central with a record of 37-36, it is fair to say that the Detroit Tigers are having a rather disappointing season. With the calendar already turning to July next week and the halfway mark lurking, the Tigers are going to need a few guys to start stepping up. Here are five players who are going to be vital to the team's chances going forward.

Sitting in third place in the AL Central with a record of 37-36, it is fair to say that the Detroit Tigers are having a rather disappointing season. With the calendar already turning to July next week and the halfway mark lurking, the Tigers are going to need a few guys to start stepping up. Here are five players who are going to be vital to the team's chances going forward.

5. Anthony Gose

5. Anthony Gose Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
After having a hot start to the year, center fielder Anthony Gose has batted an abysmal .159/.197/.175 so far in June. He needs to right the ship in July and get back to being the guy he was at the beginning of the season.

After having a hot start to the year, center fielder Anthony Gose has batted an abysmal .159/.197/.175 so far in June. He needs to right the ship in July and get back to being the guy he was at the beginning of the season.

4. Nick Castellanos

4. Nick Castellanos Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Although he looked like a prime breakout candidate heading into his sophomore campaign, Nick Castellanos hasn't quite been getting the job done so far. The 23-year-old is only hitting .224/.274/.347 with four home runs and 28 RBIs up to this point, and the Tigers are going to need to get a little more production out of third base.

Although he looked like a prime breakout candidate heading into his sophomore campaign, Nick Castellanos hasn't quite been getting the job done so far. The 23-year-old is only hitting .224/.274/.347 with four home runs and 28 RBIs up to this point, and the Tigers are going to need to get a little more production out of third base.

3. Bruce Rondon

3. Bruce Rondon Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
With the Tigers' bullpen sporting an MLB-worst 5.69 ERA in the month of June, Bruce Rondon's return could not have come at a better time. The hard-throwing 24-year-old returned to action on Thursday, striking out the only two batters he faced. Hopefully he can keep it up.

With the Tigers' bullpen sporting an MLB-worst 5.69 ERA in the month of June, Bruce Rondon's return could not have come at a better time. The hard-throwing 24-year-old returned to action on Thursday, striking out the only two batters he faced. Hopefully he can keep it up.

2. Victor Martinez

2. Victor Martinez Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
In seven games since coming off the DL, Victor Martinez has looked much better, hitting .345/.387/.517 with a homer and seven RBIs over 31 plate appearances. A healthy and productive V-Mart will be essential to the Tigers' success down the stretch.

In seven games since coming off the DL, Victor Martinez has looked much better, hitting .345/.387/.517 with a homer and seven RBIs over 31 plate appearances. A healthy and productive V-Mart will be essential to the Tigers' success down the stretch.

1. Justin Verlander

1. Justin Verlander Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
In two starts since coming off of the DL, Justin Verlander has gone 0-1 with a 6.17 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He was scratched from his latest start with a back issue. Of course, no one is expecting Verlander to return to his MVP, Cy Young-award winning form of 2011, but he still needs to pitch like a middle-of-the-rotation guy at the very least.

In two starts since coming off of the DL, Justin Verlander has gone 0-1 with a 6.17 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He was scratched from his latest start with a back issue. Of course, no one is expecting Verlander to return to his MVP, Cy Young-award winning form of 2011, but he still needs to pitch like a middle-of-the-rotation guy at the very least.

Brad Faber is a writer for RantSports. Like him on Facebook.
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