Tigers battery a double positive

The youngest battery in the Majors proved effective the first time together as 20-year-old Rick Porcello wins his 10th game of the season and 22-year-old catcher Alex Avila goes 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI in his MLB debut. The Tigers rookies certainly helped the team to a 7-3 victory over Baltimore. Avila wasn't even expecting a call-up this year.

Fantasy Impact: Porcello is an own-able option as a starting pitcher, but Avila's situation is much more amorphous. The backstop might not get many chances at the MLB level with Gerald Laird ahead of him. Laird, however, hasn't hit much for the past month, making Avila worth watching in the case that he begins to steal Laird's playing time.

Porcello powered by revamped Tigers lineup

Tigers rookie starter Rick Porcello provided his best major league effort to date, and the Tigers revamped lineup gave him plenty of space to work with in a 9-0 victory over the Twins.

Porcello threw seven innings of shutout ball while Jim Leyland slid Josh Anderson into the leadoff spot and batted usual leadoff man Curtis Granderson fifth

Fantasy Impact: The young Porcello is looking to be a mercurial pitcher at this stage of his career as his ERA falls to just 4.71. He's got some work to do before he's a consistent option in fantasy leagues.

Granderson and Miguel Cabrera both homered in the new-look lineup while Anderson went 2-5 and scored a run. If it ain't broke, Jim Leyland, we'll see the same lineup tomorrow, right? This may bode well for both Anderson and Granderson owners.

Porcello to start in Detroit rotation

Tigers Rookie Rick Porcello not only made the team today, he's also in Detroit's rotation, according to team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski.

“I think he’s one of our best starting pitchers,” Dombrowski said. “He has quality stuff. We’ve seen it. He throws strikes. He’s a confident, mature individual beyond his years.

“He has continued development in his breaking ball. He’ll continue to work hard at it. He’s got a good changeup. He’s very mature. He’s very talented. He does the little things well, fields his position well. He’s a competitor. He holds runners well.

“I think he’s ready. I think he’ll do well. If he has some tough times — every pitcher does — I think he’s mature enough to handle it. Is he a 100% finished guy? No. But he’ll keep working on what he needs to work on. And he has a pitch that can help get him out of jams — a very, very nasty sinker.”

Fantasy Impact: Porcello's never pitched above A-ball, and he's just 20 years old. His numbers, however, don't lie. The lanky right-hander walked just 33 batters in 125 innings last season, and limited opponents to a 1.19 WHIP. He's a classic sinker-baller, so don't expect tons of strike outs. Do expect good numbers in all other categories, especially before teams get a book on him.