Two Tigers to potentially make their final starts against Ohtani's Angels

It's going to be a strange few days in Detroit.

The Tigers welcome in the Los Angeles Angels for a three-game stint on Tuesday that will be full of intrigue. That's not because the Tigers versus the Angels is a juggernaut of a series. Detroit is 46-54 while LA is 51-49.

No, it's not the matchup that will have the MLB world watching. Well, unless we're counting all of Shohei Ohtani's at-bats.

Rather, the Tigers will be trotting out two pitchers that very well may be playing their last games in Detroit. The first is lefty Eduardo Rodriguez in game one followed by righty Michael Lorenzen in game two.

According to MLB insider Jason Beck, both players are likely to be dealt by the 2023 MLB trade deadline on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

"President of baseball operations Scott Harris, heading into his first Deadline running the Tigers, has a track record of being aggressive and creative in making deals, evidenced last winter," Beck wrote. "This year is expected to be a seller’s market for starting pitchers, especially with several contenders who have built rosters around talented young hitters."

Rodriguez is signed through 2026 with Detroit but he has a player opt-out this upcoming offseason built into his contract, meaning this deadline could be the only chance Harris will have to get any value out of him. He has a 6-5 record with a 2.69 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. That type of presence coming from a left-handed starter could be extremely valuable for several would-be contenders.

In Lorenzen, the Tigers can sell a veteran righty with a 3.49 ERA and WHIP of 1.09. Most impressively, Lorenzen hasn't given up a run in his last four starts and he'd be a perfect rental considering he'll hit unrestricted free agency in 2024.

All of this backdrops Ohtani and his MVP-esque season. He'll be an unrestricted free agent as well this offseason, so if the Angeles don't feel they can re-sign him and want to try to get something before he walks away, any potential trade deals would have to be discussed this week.

It seems unlikely Ohtani will be traded because the Angeles will demand a haul, but in Rodriguez and Lorenzen you're looking at two players who will likely be wearing different uniforms in a week.

Beck names the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers as teams potentially in the market for a starting pitcher.