Despite finishing last season in the Houston Astros’ bullpen, Francisco Liriano will be one of the Detroit Tigers’ five starting pitchers in 2018, manager Ron Gardenhire announced on Sunday. Liriano and Michael Fulmer are “locks” for the rotation right now, according to Gardenhire. “After that, it’s a cat fight,” he told reporters.
Liriano signed with the Tigers for $4 million in late February. While many expected him to get the nod as a starter, his subpar 2017 season — including 20 appearances out of the bullpen for the World Champion Astros — left some wondering how he would fit into a crowded Tigers rotation.