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Detroit Tigers Clips

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Detroit Free Press

Detroit Tigers' Matt Boyd has 'best outing yet' vs. Cardinals (Fenech)

Tigers' top prospect Fulmer optioned to Triple-A Toledo (Fenech)

Detroit Tigers' Jose Iglesias hitting well, working on baserunning (Fenech)

Detroit 2, St. Louis 0: Boyd throws 5 sharp innings for Tigers (Fenech)

The Detroit News

Tigers’ Boyd dominant as his transformation continues (McCosky)

Tigers send promising Michael Fulmer to Toledo (McCosky)

Dubee hopes mechanical change can alleviate Ferrell’s pain (McCosky)

Tigers outright RHP Montreal Robertson (McCosky)

MLive.com Detroit Tigers outright Montreal Robertson, open up spot on 40-man roster (Iott)

Matt Boyd strikes out seven, throws five shutout innings in win (Iott)

James McCann on mend after sleeping off illness for day-and-a-half (Iott)

Detroit Tigers option top prospect Michael Fulmer to Triple-A Toledo (Iott)

MLB.com

Boyd makes convincing case for Tigers role (Dorsey)

No. 1 prospect Fulmer optioned to Toledo (Dorsey)

Boyd throws 5 impressive in shutout over Cards (Langosch)

Ausmus addresses policy on kids in clubhouse (Dorsey)

Associated Press

Tigers' Boyd strikes out seven over five scoreless innings (King)

Daily Transactions

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Detroit Tigers' Matt Boyd has 'best outing yet' vs. Cardinals March 19, 2016

By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

JUPITER, Fla. -- The latest building block for Matt Boyd came in an 0-2 count.

He found himself in many of them in his fourth start of the spring, ahead of proven St. Louis Cardinals like

third baseman Matt Carpenter and outfielder Brandon Moss and second baseman Kolten Wong.

“It was a big emphasis on, if we get a guy 0-2, we’re just going to put them away,” Boyd said. “We’re not going

to waste anything.”

And in a 2-0 win today, the Detroit Tigers’ left-hander did just that.

Boyd executed the plan put together with catcher Bryan Holaday before the game to perfection, spinning five

shutout innings on two hits. He struck out seven and walked one.

“I thought he looked very good,” manager Brad Ausmus said. “Strong. Best outing yet.”

Boyd threw 69 pitches, 47 for strikes. He didn’t give up any hard contact and dispatched batter after batter in

five pitches or less.

“Just repeating, that’s all it is,” Boyd said. “If I can just repeat my delivery, that’s what makes me get guys.

That’s just the big thing for me. I was able to repeat my delivery today, made some adjustments that needed to

be made, and I had a lot of success with it.”

Repeating his delivery was the emphasis last week. More endurance will be the emphasis this week, he said,

noting that as his pitch count crept towards 70, he tired a bit and didn’t execute as he had earlier in the game.

“There’s little things within the game that I can make a little bit better, too, and at this point, it’s refining,” he

said. “I can get a little bit better here and a little bit better there, but you’re not going to make a wholesale

change.”

Even with his best start of the spring — Boyd has a 3.29 ERA in four starts — he still appears to be on the

outside looking in at a fifth starter’s race that is led by lefty Daniel Norris, followed by righty Shane Greene.

Ausmus didn’t put any extra importance on the start, saying beforehand, “It’s certainly not a critical start.” But

the strong showing against a lineup stacked with regulars certainly didn’t hurt his standing.

“That’s out of my control,” Boyd said. “I have no bearing on it. They could send me to Low-A. It’s wasted

energy.”

Instead, what the young starter is spending his energy on is laying the next block in his case to get to the big

leagues.

“I had things after my first start that I had to work on, and five days later, after that start, same thing,” he said.

“After last week, I had some things that I knew were going to start to put me over the edge, if I could just start

to repeat and make a few adjustments, I think my game is going to elevate.

“That’s just kind of the mindset: I have to build off last week and go out there and attack.”

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Tigers' top prospect Fulmer optioned to Triple-A Toledo March 19, 2016

By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Detroit Tigers’ top prospect is ticketed for Triple-A Toledo.

Right-handed pitcher Michael Fulmer was optioned out of big-league camp this morning and will start the

season in the Mud Hens’ rotation.

The move comes as no surprise: Fulmer had been a long shot to make the team in a relief role from the outset of

his first major league spring training, and it was more likely that the Tigers would keep him in a starting role to

serve as insurance throughout the season.

Fulmer allowed five runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings this spring. He struck out seven and walked five.

With just over two weeks left in spring training, and with starting pitchers beginning to stretch out, the team

was going to have a hard time finding the number of innings needed for Fulmer as a starting pitcher down the

stretch.

In 2015, Fulmer was named the Double-A Eastern League pitcher of the year, combining for a 2.01 ERA

between Binghamton and Erie. He was the centerpiece of the Tigers’ trade of outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to the

New York Mets.

Fulmer, 23, is ranked as the organization’s No. 1 prospect by all major publications.

He struck out seven and walked five in four games this spring.

Fulmer has a high-impact delivery — some scouts believe he is best suited for a bullpen role — carries a lot of

intensity to the mound with him, and could debut in the big leagues at some point this season.

“You just don’t know,” Ausmus said. “I don’t have that good of a crystal ball but it wouldn’t surprise me if it

was sometime this year.”

Note 1: After two appearances, veteran closer Francisco Rodriguez will stay back in Tiger Town to throw in a

minor league game while the Tigers head east this weekend. Rodriguez, a 14-year veteran, prepares according

to his plans, manager Brad Ausmus said. “It’s pretty rare,” he said. “It’s gotta be a veteran guy who’s

established that this style of preparation works for him.”

Notes 2-4: Catcher James McCann was out of the lineup for a second consecutive day Thursday with a fever. ...

Right-hander Anibal Sanchez (triceps) “gave me the thumbs-up,” Ausmus said and is on track to make his

spring debut Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies. Sanchez threw a 45-pitch simulated game Wednesday.

… Right-hander Alex Wilson (shoulder) threw from 120 feet Thursday and is expected to throw a bullpen

session Saturday.

Note 5: Former Tigers pitcher Brad Penny is retiring after 14 seasons in the majors. Toronto Blue Jays manager

John Gibbons says the 37-year-old right-hander informed him today. Penny has not pitched in the majors since

September 2014 with Miami, when he posted a 6.58 ERA in eight outings.

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Detroit Tigers' Jose Iglesias hitting well, working on baserunning

March 19, 2016

By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

JUPITER, Fla. -- Jose Iglesias is hitting, and he’s running, too.

The Detroit Tigers shortstop had two hits in today's 2-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals and collected his

fourth stolen base of the spring, this one against veteran catcher Yadier Molina, who possesses one of the

strongest throwing arms in the game.

“He’s definitely working on his jumps and his baserunning,” manager Brad Ausmus said.

He has worked diligently with Kirk Gibson, who has served as a baserunning instructor in Tiger Town this

spring, specifically on his leadoff jumps from first base. One of the things Gibson has stressed is the position of

the front foot while the ball is being delivered to the plate. Getting a secondary lead off first base, it should be

hitting the ground as the pitch enters the hitting zone, with the momentum heading towards second base, Gibson

explained recently.

“Everybody wants to equate baserunning with stealing, but there’s a lot more to it,” Ausmus said. “He definitely

is applying some of the stuff that Kirk Gibson spoke to him about. It’s more of the mechanics of running and

how to get a good jump and how to take a direct route.”

At the plate, Iglesias is hitting .387 this spring.

“He’s swinging the bat very well,” Ausmus said.

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Detroit 2, St. Louis 0: Boyd throws 5 sharp innings for Tigers March 19, 2016

By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

At Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter, Fla.

What happened: The Tigers beat the Cardinals, 2-0. … Left-hander Matt Boyd was sharp, pitching five

scoreless innings. … Jose Iglesias, Tyler Collins and Casey McGehee had two hits. ... Jose Valdez, Bobby

Parnell and Kyle Ryan pitched scoreless innings. … There were no injuries.

Starting off: Boyd was brilliant, keeping hitters off balance throughout his fourth start of the spring with a

strong breaking ball. He allowed two hits, struck out seven and walked one. “I probably felt the best out there

that I have,” he said. “Just building off last week and before that, it’s just another building block.” Boyd threw

69 pitches, 47 for strikes.

At the plate: McGehee and Bryan Holaday drove in the game’s only runs. … Miguel Cabrera went 1-for-3. …

Iglesias is hitting .387 this spring.

On the mound: Ryan has allowed one run on three hits in seven innings this spring, with seven strikeouts and

one walk. … Parnell was sitting in the mid-90-m.p.h. range on the radar gun.

On the bases: Iglesias and Collins each stole a base against Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina. It was Iglesias’

fourth stolen base of the spring.

In the field: Andrew Romine played centerfield for the first time this spring. … Cardinals outfielder Matt

Holliday robbed J.D. Martinez of his fifth home run of the spring, leaping to bring back a baseball from beyond

the fence in leftfield.

Injury report: Catcher James McCann was out for a third consecutive day with a sickness, manager Brad

Ausmus said. He was expected to participate in baseball activities in Lakeland and could play Saturday.

Overheard: “It’s certainly not a critical start,” Ausmus said, downplaying the importance of Boyd’s outing

beforehand.

Three stars: 1. Boyd, 2. Iglesias, 3. McGehee.

Up next: Saturday vs. Miami Marlins in Jupiter.

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Tigers’ Boyd dominant as his transformation continues

March 19, 2016

By Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News

Jupiter, Fla. – One of the Tigers’ primary missions this spring was to identify and develop not five starting

pitchers, but eight or nine.

And why not, after having to use 12 different starters a year ago?

That mission may not be complete, but it’s trending in the right direction.

“I felt good about that before we even arrived in Lakeland,” manager Brad Ausmus said, referring to the

additions of Jordan Zimmermann and Mike Pelfrey and a healthy Justin Verlander.

But left-hander Matt Boyd is doing his part to deepen the organization’s starting pitching. He has put himself in

position to be the sixth starter – opening the season at Triple-A Toledo -- and the first likely call-up should the

need arise in Detroit.

He pitched five scoreless, two-hit innings Friday in the Tigers’ 2-0 spring win against the Cardinals. It was a

dominant performance against a lineup of Cardinal regulars. He struck out seven, including three on three

pitches. He also induced six groundball outs.

“That’s out of my control,” Boyd said of his spot in the Tigers’ pecking order. “I’ve got no say. They could

send me to Low-A – I have no bearing on it. It’s just wasted energy for me (to think about that).”

Instead, Boyd continues to focus on week-to-week improvements.

“Just trying to build off my last start,” he said. “Just adding another building block. I made some adjustments

off the last start and I was able to execute off of it.”

He and pitching coach Rich Dubee worked on ways to simplify his delivery so he can repeat it more

consistently.

“Just allowing me to repeat,” Boyd said. “That’s what the guys who are elite can do. That’s going to be big for

me.”

He was in trouble just once, in the third after allowing a leadoff double to Kolten Wong. He contributed to his

problems by being too anxious on a poor bunt by Adam Wainwright.

If Boyd had checked Wong back to second for another beat, he would have kept them there.

Instead, Wong got to third after Boyd’s throw to first. But, Boyd fanned Matt Carpenter and then got Tommy

Pham to ground out.

“The new slider has been a good pitch for him,” Ausmus said. “He was even getting swings and misses with his

curveball.”

Boyd threw 70 pitches, 48 for strikes. His fastballs (four-seam and two-seam) were steady at 92-93 mph and he

deftly mixed in a slider, curve and changeup.

“I think I got a strikeout on each of my five pitches,” he said. “Coming into the game me and Doc (Bryan

Holaday, catcher) put an emphasis on putting guys away when I had them 0-2. I wasn’t able to do that my last

start. Today, I just didn’t want to waste anything. When we got into that situation, try to put the hitter away. It

worked out well.”

Although nothing is definitive at this point, the Tigers’ rotation is expected to be Verlander, Pelfrey,

Zimmermann, Anibal Sanchez and Daniel Norris. Norris and Shane Greene are still battling fiercely for the

final spot.

Greene could make the 25-man roster as a reliever if Norris prevails.

Boyd, Buck Farmer and Michael Fulmer are expected to be in the rotation in Toledo, giving the Tigers nine

capable starting pitchers.

The Tigers scratched out a pair of runs off Wainwright. Holaday knocked in the first run with a groundout after

Tyler Collins and Casey McGehee singled in the second.

Collins singled, stole second, and scored on a base hit by McGehee.

J.D. Martinez nearly got his fifth homer of the spring but Matt Holliday went back to the wall in left and caught

it off the top off the fence.

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Jose Valdez, Bobby Parnell (his fastball velocity up to 94-95 and once touching 96 mph), Kyle Ryan and Lendy

Castillo pitched the ninth. The Tigers allowed three hits.

It was the Tigers’ fifth straight spring win.

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Tigers send promising Michael Fulmer to Toledo

March 19, 2016

By Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News

Jupiter, Fla. – General manager Al Avila said a couple of weeks ago it would be in right-handed pitcher

Michael Fulmer’s best interest to get more seasoning in the minor leagues.

On Friday the Tigers optioned their top prospect to Triple-A Toledo.

“Ultimately the development will serve him better than forcing him to pitch at the Major League level when he

probably wasn’t quite ready,” manager Brad Ausmus.

Fulmer, 23, made a strong impression, though.

“He is a young kid with potential,” Ausmus said. “He’s got good makeup, good build and he did everything we

asked. I am sure he’ll be in the big leagues at some point, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it was some time this

year.”

Despite a couple of rough outings, he showed the power arm and bulldog mentality the Tigers coveted when

they acquired him from the Mets for Yoenis Cespedes last July.

He pitched 7.1 inning in four spring outings, allowing five runs, five walks with seven strikeouts.

Fulmer also struggled at times to corral his emotions in those four outings, getting over-amped and losing his

mechanics. But the Tigers think his aggressive mentality will serve him well over the long haul.

“You kind of have to go through it,” Ausmus said. “Most guys have to go through it. I am sure at some point

when he’s back up here, he’ll be amped up again and the adrenalin will be flowing. Hopefully he gets through it

and he’ll be able to control it and harness it.”

Fulmer had an outside shot at making the club as the final bullpen piece, but it became clear last week when the

Tigers began building his innings and pitch counts that he would likely start the year in the rotation in Toledo.

The Tigers also want him to continue working on a changeup.

“That’s another reason (for sending him down),” Ausmus said. “It allows him time to work on the changeup,

which I think will help him in the long term. If he’s pitching at the big league-level, he can’t be working on a

third pitch coming out of the bullpen.”

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Dubee hopes mechanical change can alleviate Ferrell’s pain

March 19, 2016

By Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News

Jupiter, Fla. – Pitching coach Rich Dubee placed a long, skinny rod behind Jeff Ferrell’s back, parallel with hips

as the right-hander prepared to throw a pitch from the stretch during a flat-ground session Wednesday.

Ferrell sets and then slowly goes through his normal delivery. His arm curls well behind his back and his hand

hits the rod. It’s that exaggerated backswing that Dubee is trying to correct, believing it’s leading to Ferrell’s

shoulder pain.

“We are trying to clean it up (the motion) so his arm is pointed more toward second base and not wrapping

behind him,” Dubee said. “He’s taking to it. We’ll see.”

Ferrell, whom the Tigers expected to start the season as a late-innings short reliever at Toledo, has been shut

down with shoulder impingement. The tendons and bursa are swollen and pinching on the rotator cuff.

Ferrell said he pitched through the pain most of last year and during the Arizona Fall League. Dubee believes

the mechanical change can alleviate the swelling.

“When you put your arm back there, it’s pinching here and here,” he said, pointing to two spots on the shoulder.

“And then your arm’s got to re-route to throw. It takes a long time to get there and often he’s late (to his release

point). And that also puts more stress on it.”

There is no timetable for the resumption of Ferrell’s throwing program.

Health updates

Right-hander Alex Wilson (rotator cuff fatigue) felt no discomfort after throwing out to 120 feet two days in a

row. He is expected to throw a bullpen Saturday.

… Catcher James McCann (illness) did not travel with the team Friday. He was expected to do baseball

activities back in Lakeland. Manager Brad Ausmus said it was possible he could join the team in Jupiter

Saturday and DH.

… Right-hander Anibal Sanchez (triceps inflammation) is scheduled to make his spring debut Monday against

the Phillies in Lakeland.

… Center fielder Cameron Maybin was scheduled to get a second X-ray on his fractured left wrist Friday. The

second X-ray was to see how the bone was healing. It could give the club a better read on whether Maybin can

be ready to start the regular season on time. If he can’t, the Tigers would likely keep either Tyler Collins or

Wynton Bernard on the 25-man roster.

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Tigers outright RHP Montreal Robertson

March 19, 2016

By Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News

Lakeland, Fla. – The Tigers have an open spot on their 40-man roster.

After the game Friday, the club announced it had outrighted RHP Montreal Robertson, who is out with a

shoulder injury.

Robertson was assigned to the minor league camp while he goes through the rehab process.

Robertson, 25, made a big jump last season, going from Class A to Double AA. He pitched well in the Arizona

Fall League, as well, earning a spot on the 40-man.

He injured the shoulder while lifting weights early in camp.

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Detroit Tigers outright Montreal Robertson, open up spot on 40-man roster March 19, 2016

By Chris Iott/ MLive.com

The Detroit Tigers added Montreal Robertson to the 40-man roster in November.

They took him off in March.

The Tigers announced Friday that they have outrighted Robertson and assigned him to minor-league camp.

The fact that they outrighted Robertson and did not option him means he cleared waivers and is no longer on the

40-man roster.

Robertson suffered a right shoulder subluxation last month while working out in the weight room. Tigers

manager Brad Ausmus said March 1 that the timeframe for Robertson's return would be six to eight weeks.

The Tigers added Robertson to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He is a bit

of a late bloomer. Robertson is 25 years old and has pitched in just 15 games above the Single-A level, none

above Double-A.

Robertson has a live arm but has struggled with command throughout his professional career. He walked 35 in

68 innings in 2015.

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Matt Boyd strikes out seven, throws five shutout innings in win March 19, 2016

By Chris Iott/ MLive.com

JUPITER, Fla. – One of the Detroit Tigers' primary missions this spring was to identify and develop not five

starting pitchers, but eight or nine.

And why not after having to use 12 different starters a year ago?

That mission may not be complete, but it's trending in the right direction.

Left-hander Matt Boyd has put himself in position to be the sixth starter – opening the season at Triple-A

Toledo -- and the first likely call-up should the need arise in Detroit.

He pitched five scoreless, two-hit innings Friday in the Tigers' 2-0 spring win against the Cardinals. It was a

dominant performance. He struck out seven, including three on three pitches. He also induced six groundball

outs.

"That's out of my control," Boyd said of his spot in the Tigers' pecking order. "I've got no say. They could send

me to Low-A – I have no bearing on it. It's just wasted energy for me (to think about that)."

Instead, Boyd continues to focus on week-to-week improvements.

"Just trying to build off my last start," he said. "Just adding another building block. I made some adjustments off

the last start and I was able to execute off of it."

Boyd and pitching coach Rich Dubee worked on ways to simplify his delivery so he can repeat it more

consistently.

"Just allowing me to repeat," Boyd said. "That's what the guys who are elite can do. That's going to be big for

me."

He was in trouble just once, in the third after allowing a leadoff double to Kolten Wong. He contributed to his

problems by being too anxious on a poor bunt by Adam Wainwright. If Boyd had checked Wong back to

second for another beat, he would have kept them there.

Instead, Wong got to third after Boyd's throw to first. But Boyd fanned Matt Carpenter and then got Tommy

Pham to ground out.

He threw 70 pitches, 48 for strikes. His fastball was steady at 92 to 93 mph and he deftly mixed in a slider,

curve and changeup.

"I think I got a strikeout on each of my five pitches," he said. "Coming into the game me and Doc (catcher

Bryan Holaday) put an emphasis on putting guys away when I had them 0-2. I wasn't able to do that my last

start. Today, I just didn't want to waste anything. When we got into that situation, try to put the hitter away. It

worked out well."

Although nothing is definitive, the Tigers' rotation is expected to be Justin Verlander, Mike Pelfrey, Jordan

Zimmermann, Anibal Sanchez and Daniel Norris. Norris and Shane Greene are still battling fiercely for the

final spot.

Greene could make the 25-man roster as a reliever if Norris prevails.

The Tigers scratched out a pair of runs off Wainwright. Holaday knocked in the first run with a ground out after

Tyler Collins and Casey McGehee singled in the second.

Collins singled, stole second, and scored on a base hit by McGehee.

J.D. Martinez nearly got his fifth homer of the spring but Matt Holliday went back to the wall in left and caught

it off the top off the fence.

Jose Valdez, Bobby Parnell (his fastball velocity up to 94-95 and once touching 96 mph) and Kyle Ryan pitched

scoreless innings. Lendy Castillo pitched the ninth.

It was the fifth straight win for the Tigers.

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James McCann on mend after sleeping off illness for day-and-a-half March 19, 2016

By Chris Iott/ MLive.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Sleeping for a day-and-a-half might sound tempting sometimes. But if a person actually

does it, it's usually not good news.

Just ask James McCann.

The Detroit Tigers catcher has been out of action due to an illness that had him out of business entirely from

Tuesday night until Thursday morning.

"When they sent me home, I slept for 30 of the next 36 hours," McCann said Friday morning. "When I woke up,

the fever was gone. My wife woke me up every six hours to take Tylenol and to take the meds I was supposed

to be taking. I mean, she kept trying to keep me up saying I wasn't going to sleep through the night, but I just

kept sleeping."

The six hours of awake time during that stretch included one trip to the ballpark to see a team doctor and one

meal with his wife: She woke him up to eat dinner Wednesday.

Bryan Holaday replaced McCann in the lineup Friday for the team's game in Jupiter against the St. Louis

Cardinals. McCann instead headed to the ballpark in Lakeland to get some work in.

"I'm on the mend," McCann said. "I'm going to go through some light activity today and see how the body

responds and hopefully be able to play tomorrow."

McCann is tentatively in the starting lineup as the designated hitter for his team's game Saturday in Jupiter

against the Miami Marlins.

McCann is hitting .304 (7 for 23) with two home runs and seven RBIs in nine games this spring. He hit a grand

slam Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves before being sent home sick.

"It was really bad," he said.

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Detroit Tigers option top prospect Michael Fulmer to Triple-A Toledo March 19, 2016

By Chris Iott/ MLive.com

LAKELAND, FLA. -- If Detroit Tigers fans want to see the team's top prospect in action in early April, they are

going to have to make the drive to Toledo to do it.

The Tigers announced early Friday morning that they have optioned right-hander Michael Fulmer to Triple-A

Toledo.

The Tigers obtained Fulmer at the trade deadline last year in the deal that sent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to the

New York Mets. By all accounts, Fulmer is the team's top prospect, but he was a bit of a long shot to make the

roster this spring.

Fulmer, who has never pitched above the Double-A level, went 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA in 7.1 innings pitched. He

allowed five earned runs, gave up six hits, walked five and struck out seven in four Grapefruit League

appearances.

Fulmer will be stretched out to be a starter while in minor-league camp and will be in the rotation in Triple-A

Toledo.

Left-handers Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd and right-handers Shane Greene and Buck Farmer remain in camp

and in contention for the fifth spot in the starting rotation for the Tigers, though Norris and Greene would seem

to have a leg up on the other two in that competition. Greene and Farmer would be in contention for spots in the

Tigers bullpen if they don't earn a rotation spot.

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Boyd makes convincing case for Tigers role

March 19, 2016

By Steve Dorsey/ MLB.com

JUPITER, Fla. -- The jury remains out on whether Matt Boyd will be part of the Tigers' starting rotation or in

the bullpen when the season starts. He could even start the season with Triple-A Toledo.

But the left-hander certainly made a strong case Friday for his inclusion somewhere on the team's pitching staff.

Boyd delivered his best outing of the spring in the Tigers' 2-0 Grapefruit League win against the Cardinals at

Roger Dean Stadium. He tossed five shutout innings, allowing only two hits, with one walk and seven

strikeouts.

And here's another fact to digest about his performance: Boyd outdueled St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright, the

Cardinals' Opening Day starter who allowed two runs on six hits with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings, and

whose ERA of 3.38 is slightly higher than Boyd's 3.29 through four starts this spring.

"Probably felt the best out there that I have [this spring]," said Boyd, who exited the game after throwing 69

pitches, 47 of them for strikes. "Made some adjustments coming off [my] last start and was able to execute

them. I think I got everyone [out] on all five pitches."

Boyd tamed a Cardinals lineup that included Matt Carpenter, Matt Holliday and Matt Adams, limiting that

dangerous trio to two singles and a walk in a combined nine at-bats.

"It shouldn't matter who is in the box. You just go out there and attack," Boyd said. "Obviously be smart with it

and know what each hitter does, but don't let it overwhelm you and change who you are as a pitcher."

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said that Boyd's new slider has been a positive addition to his pitching arsenal

this spring.

"I think that helped him today," Ausmus said of Boyd. "He threw strikes today. Even his curveball got some

good swings. His problem has been throwing strikes at times. Because he's got a lot of movement, sometimes

it's hard to command the movement. He's done that better."

Boyd said Friday's performance was "just another building block," and that he's not allowing himself to get

caught up in where he stands as far as a roster spot is concerned.

"That's out of my control. That's wasted energy," Boyd said. "If I can just start to repeat and make a few

adjustments, I think my 'A' game is just going to elevate, and that's just kind of the mindset I have. Got to keep

extending the pitch count. At this point, it's refining."

• Tigers cleanup hitter J. D. Martinez was robbed of what would have been his fifth home run this spring when

Holliday, making his first start in left field for the Cardinals this spring, reached over the wall to snag a drive by

Martinez in the top of the third inning.

• Shortstop Jose Iglesias was 2-for-3 Friday, including a double, to raise his batting average to .387 this spring.

• Catcher James McCann stayed back in Lakeland, Fla., to nurse a cold and congestion, but Ausmus said that

McCann was feeling better Friday morning and might join the team in Jupiter on Saturday for the Tigers' game

against the Marlins.

• Following Friday's game, the Tigers announced that right-handed pitcher Montreal Robertson has been sent to

Minor League camp.

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No. 1 prospect Fulmer optioned to Toledo

March 19, 2016

By Steve Dorsey/ MLB.com

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Tigers announced Friday that top pitching prospect Michael Fulmer has been optioned to

Triple-A Toledo.

Fulmer, who was acquired by Detroit in the Yoenis Cespedes trade with the Mets last July, had a 6.14 ERA in 7

1/3 innings pitched this spring, and there had been some debate whether to stretch him out to be a starter or

move him to the bullpen. He is the Tigers' No. 1 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com.

"I think ultimately the development will serve him better than forcing him to pitch at the Major League level

when he's probably not quite ready," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said prior to Friday's 2-0 win over the

Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. "And it allows him to start and work on that changeup, which I think is going

to be important for him long-term. If he's pitching at the big league level, you can't be working on a third pitch

coming out of the bullpen."

Fulmer posted a 6-2 record and a 1.88 ERA with Double-A Binghamton last summer before the trade and a 4-1

record with a 2.84 ERA in six starts with Double-A Erie after the deal. Fulmer has a career record of 26-24 with

a 3.17 ERA in 76 games in the Minor Leagues.

The moves comes about a week after Tigers GM Al Avila told reporters that it was in Fulmer's "best interest" to

be a starter "because the development process is better."

Ausmus is confident that the 23-year-old Fulmer, who was a first-round pick by the Mets in 2011, will

eventually be on the Tigers' Major League roster, possibly later in 2016.

"I don't have that good of a crystal ball, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was sometime this year," Ausmus said.

"Young kid with potential, good makeup, good build. Did everything we asked. I think he'll be a big league

pitcher at some point."

17

Boyd throws 5 impressive in shutout over Cards

March 19, 2016

By Jenifer Langosch/ MLB.com

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Tigers scored twice off Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright and rode five scoreless innings

from starter Matt Boyd to claim a 2-0 victory at Roger Dean Stadium on Friday.

Tigers outfielder Tyler Collins helped stir both run-scoring innings against Wainwright, who was making his

third Grapefruit League appearance. Collins singled to open the second inning and, after advancing on a Casey

McGehee hit, scored on a Bryan Holaday force out. He singled and scored again in the fourth.

Meanwhile, Boyd was efficient and effective in his fourth spring start. The Cardinals tallied only two hits off

the lefty, who struck out seven and walked one.

"That kid has good stuff, really good stuff," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said after his first look at Boyd.

Wainwright, who has already been named the Cardinals' Opening Day starter, threw a spring-high 4 2/3 innings.

He allowed two runs on six hits and threw 48 of his 70 pitches for strikes. Matt Holliday, playing in the outfield

for the first time this spring, helped prevent another run in the third inning by robbing J.D. Martinez of a homer

with a leap along the left-field wall.

"That's a pretty good hitting team over there," Wainwright said. "Those guys will tell you exactly where your

stuff is. I love seeing hitters' reactions. Today my main focus was controlling my body and building off that for

next time. Last time out, I felt a lot better with my command and tempo, the path that my body was taking. This

time I expanded on that a little bit and am going to expand that into the next game."

Three Tigers starters -- Collins, Jose Iglesias and McGehee -- finished with multi-hit games. Ian Kinsler's eight-

game hitting streak ended with an 0-for-4 day.

Up next for the Tigers: Many of the Tigers who made the trip, including Miguel Cabrera, to Florida's east coast

will remain in Jupiter for the team's game Saturday against the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. First pitch is

scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET, and the game can be followed using MLB Gameday. Left-hander Daniel Norris,

who is vying for the No. 5 starter in the rotation, will be on the mound for the Tigers. Lefty Adam Conley is the

scheduled starter for the Marlins.

Up next for the Cardinals: Right-hander Michael Wacha will face former teammate Joe Kelly when the

Cardinals travel to Fort Myers, Fla., to play the Reds Sox on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.

CT. Wacha, who is in line to be the team's No. 2 starter, has not pitched past the second inning in either of his

first two spring starts. The game can be seen live on MLB.TV.

18

Ausmus addresses policy on kids in clubhouse March 19, 2016

By Steve Dorsey/ MLB.com

JUPITER, Fla. -- If any of the Tigers' players want to have their sons hang out in the clubhouse, that's just fine,

for the most part, with manager Brad Ausmus.

Ausmus briefly addressed the topic on Friday, which has generated some controversy this week after Adam

LaRoche unexpectedly retired after the White Sox requested that he dial back the amount of time his 14-year-

old son was spending around the team's clubhouse.

Ausmus, speaking with reporters prior to the Tigers' 2-0 win over the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium, said he

appreciates the time that any father would want to spend with their children, particularly those who are

professional athletes and away from home so often..

"My feeling is baseball is a difficult game for families, including wives," Ausmus said. "Fathers are gone a lot.

Generally speaking, I encourage guys to have their sons around."

Ausmus said, however, that there needs to be some limitations when it comes to visitors, including children, in

the clubhouse.

"You can't have just anybody in the clubhouse, but when you're talking about a father or brother or son, that's

the one time I tell the guys that they don't really need to let me know," Ausmus said of the rules invoked in the

Tigers' clubhouse. "If it's your father or your brother or your son, feel free to bring them."

Ausmus said the Tigers don't allow kids in the clubhouse during games, only pregame up to when batting

practice ends and after the clubhouse opens following a game. He said that his players don't abuse his leniency

regarding clubhouse visitors, and that many days there are no kids or family in the clubhouse.

"I understand that you're gone so much from your family that when you're home you might want them in the

clubhouse and maybe on the field shagging fly balls. That doesn't bother me," Ausmus said. "It's a little tougher

with daughters. You can't really bring your daughter into the clubhouse. But I understand why guys want their

kids around."

19

Tigers' Boyd strikes out seven over five scoreless innings

March 19, 2016

By Chuck King/ Associated Press

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) -- Cardinals star Yadier Molina took his first full swings of spring training, going 0 for 3

Friday as St. Louis lost to the Detroit Tigers 2-0.

Working his way back from two offseason thumb surgeries, the eight-time Gold Glove catcher had four

previous exhibition at-bats, but the team didn't let him swing. Molina bunted once.

Calling his swing timing "terrible," Molina saw 17 pitches and swung at 14. He twice grounded out before

lofting a flyball to left field that was caught a step shy of the warning track.

In the regular season, they might become a home run.

"Hopefully," Molina said. "That's the idea -- keep building the strength and when I hit the ball it will carry

more."

Molina later reiterated his belief that he will be ready for opening day.

Making his third spring start, Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright looked for a measuring stick to evaluate his

progress thus far. He found it in the big stick swung by Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera.

"His first at-bat I threw him all my pitches because I wanted to see reactions to each one," Wainwright said.

"There's no better hitter to tell you exactly where you are at on your stuff."

Wainwright gave up two runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Cabrera drew a walk the first time he came up. His lone hit came in the seventh, a single into right field off

Jonathan Broxton.

After learning to play first base for the first month of spring, Matt Holliday made his first appearance in left

field for St. Louis. The 12-year veteran didn't need much time to readjust, robbing a home run from J.D.

Martinez in the third.

Tigers starter Matt Boyd pitched five shutout innings, allowing only two hits and striking out seven.

STARTING TIME

Tigers: Boyd was sharp, helped by a boosted repertoire.

"His new slider seems to be a good addition," manager Brad Ausmus said. "I think that helped him today. He

threw strikes today."

Cardinals: Wainwright stepped into the batter's box in a game for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon

last season. He fouled off two pitches while trying to bunt before successfully sacrificing Kolten Wong to third.

"Everything has come back very naturally this year," Wainwright said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: Ausmus said catcher James McCann (illness) could make the trip to Jupiter for Saturday's game against

Miami, potentially serving as the designated hitter. ... Cameron Maybin was scheduled to have an X-ray on

Friday to check the healing progress of the non-displaced fracture in his wrist.

Cardinals: Catcher Brayan Pena's sore throwing arm has responded to rest. Manager Mike Matheny said Pena is

expected to play on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Tigers: Detroit will play its second consecutive game in Jupiter. Daniel Norris draws the start against Miami's

Adam Conley.

Cardinals: Travel to Fort Myers, where Michael Wacha will start vs. Boston's Joe Kelly, a former Cardinals

pitcher.

20

LAST UPDATED: SAT, MARCH 19, 2016, 00:47 EST

FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Atlanta Braves Mallex Smith Sent to Minors

Chicago Cubs C.J. Riefenhauser Sent to Minors

Chicago Cubs Carl Edwards Jr. Sent to Minors

Chicago Cubs Arismendy Alc??ntara Sent to Minors

Chicago Cubs Willson Contreras Sent to Minors

Chicago Cubs Pierce Johnson Sent to Minors

Chicago White Sox Zach Phillips Declared Free Agency

Cincinnati Reds Robert Stephenson Sent to Minors

Cincinnati Reds Kyle Waldrop Sent to Minors

Cincinnati Reds Jonathan S??nchez Released

Cleveland Indians James Ramsey Sent to Minors

Colorado Rockies Eddie Butler Sent to Minors

Colorado Rockies Tom Murphy Sent to Minors

Colorado Rockies Raimel Tapia Sent to Minors

21

Minnesota Twins Jorge Polanco Sent to Minors

Minnesota Twins Alex Meyer Sent to Minors

Minnesota Twins Kennys Vargas Sent to Minors

Philadelphia Phillies Jorge Alfaro Sent to Minors

Pittsburgh Pirates John Holdzkom Sent to Minors

Pittsburgh Pirates Willy Garc??a Sent to Minors

Pittsburgh Pirates Alen Hanson Sent to Minors

Pittsburgh Pirates Nick Kingham Sent to Minors

Pittsburgh Pirates Josh Bell Sent to Minors

Seattle Mariners Boog Powell Sent to Minors

Seattle Mariners Mike Zunino Sent to Minors

Seattle Mariners Cody Martin Sent to Minors

Seattle Mariners Justin De Fratus Signed to a Minor League Contract

Toronto Blue Jays Dalton Pompey Sent to Minors

Toronto Blue Jays Matt Dom??nguez Sent to Minors

Toronto Blue Jays Brad Penny Retired

Washington Nationals Pedro Severino Sent to Minors

22

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Chicago White Sox Zach Phillips Outrighted to Minors

Cincinnati Reds Alfredo Sim??n Signed as Free Agent, ( 2016)(one-year contract)

Cleveland Indians Marlon Byrd Signed to a Minor League Contract

Los Angeles Dodgers Micah Johnson Sent to Minors

Los Angeles Dodgers Ian Thomas Sent to Minors

San Diego Padres Mike Olt Signed to a Minor League Contract

Seattle Mariners Steve Johnson Signed to a Minor League Contract

Toronto Blue Jays Rafael Soriano Retired

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Cincinnati Reds Carlos Contreras Released

Cleveland Indians Giovanni Soto Sent to Minors

Miami Marlins Tim Berry Sent to Minors

Miami Marlins Kendry Flores Sent to Minors

Miami Marlins Scott McGough Sent to Minors

23

Miami Marlins Jarlin Garc??a Sent to Minors

Miami Marlins Nick Wittgren Sent to Minors

New York Mets Rub??n Tejada Released

Pittsburgh Pirates Jesse Biddle Released

Seattle Mariners Justin De Fratus Released