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Team Fantasy Preview - Detroit Tigers

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

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Throughout the preseason, we will be previewing all 30 teams and what their rosters bring to the fantasy baseball table. This edition covers the Detroit Tigers.

Projected Lineup

ORDER POSITION NAME BATS
1 2B Ian Kinsler R
2 RF J.D. Martinez R
3 1B Miguel Cabrera R
4 DH Victor Martinez S
5 LF Justin Upton R
6 3B Nick Castellanos R
7 CF Tyler Collins L
8 C James McCann R
9 SS Jose Iglesias R
Bench OF Steven Moya L
Bench 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF Andrew Romine S

Projected Rotation

Bullpen Hierarchy

Role Name THROWS
Closer Francisco Rodriguez R
Set-Up Alex Wilson R
RP Justin Wilson L

Top Prospect to Watch in 2017

Detroit doesn't have much in the way of MLB-ready prospects, but JaCoby Jones has a chance to stake his claim to a center field spot that looks to be a battle between him, Collins and Mikie Mahtook. Jones was the 87th overall pick in 2013, though didn't hit well in 79 Triple-A games last season (.243) and fared worse in a 13-game cameo with the Tigers (.214). Should he win the job, he could be an AL-only source of steals, but little more.

Who Will Drive You Crazy?

Now 35, "K-Rod" has finally stopped living up to his nickname; last season, Rodriguez's 8.02 K/9 rate was his lowest since his 2002 debut. He also walked 3.24 batters per nine innings, and had his worst ERA (3.24) since 2012. Of course, he still racked up 44 saves, but the blowups became more frequent, a trend that should continue as Rodriguez does his best to outlast Father Time.

The One to Own

Soon to be 34, Cabrera remains a top-flight fantasy option who routinely provides an elite batting average, OBP and power numbers. He played 158 games in 2016, and aside from a 119-game 2015, has been in the lineup at least 148 times every year since his 2003 rookie campaign.

Top Sleeper

Castellanos' power spiked in his third full MLB season, as the 24-year-old homered 18 times in 110 games, though his progress was derailed by a broken hand that sidelined him for nearly all of August and September. Flying somewhat under the radar, Castellanos is an option for fantasy owners opting to wait until the later rounds for a third baseman.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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