Lakeland, Fla. — There are 11 exhibition games left this spring, less than two weeks before the Tigers head north to begin the regular season in Chicago against the White Sox.
And yet, the club is no closer to solving the riddles at the back end of the rotation or the final bullpen spots. Believe manager Brad Ausmus when he says both decisions aren’t likely to be made until the final hour.
General manager Al Avila has said throughout camp that the mission is to be a playoff team, and thus he and Ausmus will make every effort to identify and keep the 12 best pitchers on staff.