Small sample alert! As the Tigers finish their first series of the 2019 MLB season against the Toronto Blue Jays, the offense has yet to fully reach its potential. In 39 innings of play so far this season, the Tigers have only scored in three innings. They have been outscored by six runs (12-6) in three games.
A big reason for the quiet offense has been Jeimer Candelario, who, in the first three games, went 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts batting in the cleanup spot.
On Sunday, manager Ron Gardenhire batted Candelario in the leadoff spot — where he spent the majority of his time in the last two months of the 2018 season — while regular leadoff hitter Josh Harrison was taking the day off.