The Detroit Tigers have one of the best collection of hard throwers in the pen set up for 2011. 33-year old righty Jose Valverde will be the closer once again in 2011. He pitched in 60 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 2-4 with 26 saves, a 3.00 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Valverde only gave up 41 hits in 63 innings last season while whiffing 63 batters, showing just how nasty he can be. But, he was nibbling too much as he walked 32 batters last year which led to high pitch counts and it got him into some trouble at times. Valverde has now pitched in 439 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 21-23 with 193 saves, a 3.15 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. I think that Valverde will be solid for the Tigers in 2011.

33-year old righty Joaquin Benoit will come into the season as the top set-up man in 2011. Benoit pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 1-2 with 1 save, a 1.34 ERA and a 0.68 WHIP. He only allowed 30 hits and 11 walks in 60 1/3 innings last year while whiffing 75 batters and he was literally unhittable. Benoit has now pitched in 336 games (55 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 31-28 with 9 saves, a 4.47 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. The Tigers are banking on Benoit to pitch like he did last season so that the Tigers can feel confident that they are going to win almost every game when they have a lead going into the 8th inning.

24-year old right Ryan Perry will get most of his work in the 7th inning for the Tigers in 2011. Perry pitched in 60 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 3-5 with 2 saves, a 3.59 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Perry has now pitched in 113 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Tigers and he is 3-6 with 2 saves, a 3.69 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. This might be Perry’s true breakout season because he will likely be pitching with less pressure earlier in games.

26-year old righty Joel Zumaya is going to start the 2011 season on the D.L. He pitched in 31 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 2-1 with 1 save, a 2.58 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Zumaya has now pitched in 171 games (0 starts) in his first five years with the Tigers and he is 13-12 with 5 saves, a 3.05 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has 210 strikeouts in his first 209 2/3 innings in the majors. Zumaya is one of the nastiest relievers in the majors when healthy as he has outstanding stuff, but he just can’t be counted on due to injuries.

24-year old lefty Daniel Schlereth could have a breakout year for the Tigers in 2011. He pitched in 18 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 2-0 with 1 save, a 2.89 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. Schlereth has now pitched in 39 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 3-4 with 1 save, a 4.38 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. He has 41 whiffs but 25 walks in his first 37 innings, so he has good stuff but he needs to start throwing more strikes.

33-year old lefty Brad Thomas will also make the Tigers’ opening day bullpen. Thomas pitched in 49 games (2 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 6-2 with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He has now pitched in 60 games (7 starts) in his first 4 years in the majors and he is 6-5 with a 5.42 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. Thomas has only whiffed 38 batters while walking 47 in his first 93 innings in the majors, so he still has a lot of things to work on.

25-year old righty Robbie Weinhardt comes into the 2011 season as the Tigers’ #12 prospect according to Baseball America. He pitched in 28 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 2-2 with a 6.14 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. He also pitched in 27 games (0 starts) in A+AAA-ball last year and he was 2-1 with 1 save, a 1.64 WHIP and a 0.97 WHIP. Look for him to get another shot with the Tigers in 2011, and to be much better in his second go around with major league hitters.

28-year old righty Enrique Gonzalez pitched in 18 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 0-1 with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He has now pitched in 47 games (18 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 4-8 with a 5.54 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. The Tigers are hoping that Gonzalez is a late bloomer.

28-year old lefty Fu-Te Ni had a rough second year for the Tigers in 2010. Ni pitched in 22 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 0-1 with a 6.65 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He has now pitched in 58 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 0-1 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. The Tigers hope that Ni rebounds for them in 2011.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TIGERS BULLPEN IN 2011: B+