Yesterday Curtis talked about everyone’s favorite Tiger Brandon Inge and if he should be able to even make this team.  Well his position on the team could help decide the fifth starter to start the season for Detroit.

The Tigers sent Andy Oliver down to Triple-A to leave the fifth starter position up to Duane Below and Drew Smyly. Beat writer for the Detroit News Lynn Henning tweeted a possible solution.

But just looking at the stats in the spring, the decision seems simple.

This spring Below has won once this spring with a 4.38 ERA and giving up six runs on 12.1 innings pitched.  He has struck out eight, walked six and allowed 16 hits for a WHIP 1.78 in those 12.1 innings.

As for Smyly he has an ERA of 2.84 giving up four runs on 12.2 innings pitched.  He has struck out ten while walking five and giving up seven hits for a WHIP of 0.95 this spring.

With numbers like that it seems like Smyly should run away with this job, but one thing is standing in the way of him making the Tigers opening day roster.  He isn’t on the teams 40-man roster.

That’s where Inge comes into play.  If Brando doesn’t make the team, a spot on the 40-man roster opens up for Smyly to make this team.  Looking at the way that both Inge has hit and Smyly has pitched it seems like the easiest way to resolve the issue the team has.

From Lynn Henning again talking about who should make this team out of Inge and Danny Worth.

If I was Smyly I’d pin $100 and a note on the back of Inge-sanity to see if anyone would take a flyer on him and open up a spot for him to make this team.