(@RogCast81)

J.D Martinez was just recently named the AL Player of the Week and it marks the first time in his career he has this honor. In the past 12 games, he’s hitting .404 (19 for 47), six doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI. This has been the bright spot in an inconsistent outfield for the Tigers. The question is who should the Tigers start?

Torii Hunter missed Tuesday’s game against Texas due to hamstring cramps that he has been fighting for the past few weeks. Hunter has struggled the past month as his defense and hitting have slowed down a bit.

Recently, he has said he would take a lesser role if the Tigers keep on winning, which would be a welcomed addition with his leadership that can make up for his eroding skill set.

“I will do whatever is best for the team,” Hunter said after the Tigers’ three-game sweep in Cleveland.

“We’re back to hitting the right groove right now, firing on all cylinders. If that means I have to split time in the field — if that’s in the best interest to help us win — then I’m fine with that. When you get to this point in your career, it becomes a lot easier figuring out what’s most important to you. I want to win.”

His fielding percent is at a career low .968. And with Martinez producing, the outfield will become more crowded with Andy Dirks’ pending return.

When Dirks is set to return from surgery, there is a possibility he can be eased into a platoon situation with Hunter. However, the question reminds with Dirks is: have the Tigers seen enough for a strong sample size?

He is coming off major back injury that may affected his swing and his numbers. In 2012, he batted .322 in 88 games with just over 100 hits. If that’s the version of that the Tigers will get, it will help.

Austin Jackson has been in the lineup everyday, but he has been Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde when it comes to hitting at home and hitting on the road. At home, he has been hitting .325 but on the road he has been hitting a poor .168. Against lefties, though, he leads all outfielders with a .333 batting average.

Speaking of batting against left handed pitching, the Tigers’ outfield is hitting over .300 except for Martinez who is batting just .094.

While Rajai Davis has already 20 stolen bases, his arm in left has been a weakness, though his bat and speed has helped mask concerns. Davis has come down a earth a bit as well as in past week batting .150.

The Tigers have been going to Toledo a lot, and that’s how Martinez came up, but who else is in the outfield that could bolster what’s already centerstage in the show?

One name that’s surfacing is Ezequiel Carrera, who has been playing centerfield for the Mud Hens batting .308 with 32 stolen bases. He has spent time with Cleveland in 2012, but he has not been a steady performer in the past.

The good news is even though the outfield may be crowded, The Tigers have enough talent to win the AL Central. But if you look at the American League’s best team, the Oakland A’s at 47-30, it may not be enough to get back to the World Series.

With that in mind, It’s up to Dave Dombrowski to be creative. The Tigers outfield is just as big if not a bigger question mark than the bullpen. The Phillies are looking to move any of the outfielders with the signing of Grady Sizemore. Speedy Ben Revere could help cover ground in spacious Comerica, if there is a move to be made.

The Tigers have also expressed interest in Cubs outfielder Nate Schierholtz who the Tigers scouted in March according to CBS’s Bruce Levine. He has tailed off a bit with Chicago this season, but he’s steady and should not cost the Tigers much.

It’s time to gamble and go for broke for this World Series title, and there are plenty of options at the Tigers’ disposal.

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