Detroit Tigers 2015 spring training - Feb. 25, 2015

Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus talks to the team during a workout at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. on Feb. 25.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

JUPITER, FLA. -- Spring training statistics mean very little to Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus. In fact, he admitted Monday that there's a chance he won't glance at them at any point this spring.

In his mind, pitching and batting lines in March are deceiving. They don't reflect what's really happening on the field or in the batter's box.

"I don't get swayed by numbers in spring," Ausmus said. "They mean nothing."

Some batters will see a great deal of at-bats against minor-league pitchers -- leading to a bloated batting average. Some major league pitchers will try to work on a specific pitch during an outing and couldn't care less about the outcome.

Some players will get lucky bounces. Some will bat into tough outs.

"I know people like to spin it and say whoever hits better makes the team," Ausmus said. "But that's a bad way to make a decision -- based on spring stats."

The goal in spring training is to get ready for the regular season, Ausmus said. And it's up to him to construct a 25-man roster with the players he deems to be the best during the regular season. Not the best during the spring season.

"I've seen many a player have a great spring and the season starts and it's almost like a different guy," Ausmus said. "It happens too often."

Monday marked the midway point of the spring training season, and several players entangled in roster battles have put up some really strong numbers in the first half. Hernan Perez has hit .345. James McCann is batting .400. Which, of course, meant absolutely nothing to Ausmus, who made it clear Monday he's still very much unsure which 25 players he plans to take north when camp breaks.

With less than three weeks until opening day, here's a breakdown of all five position battles and the players Ausmus may be leaning towards keeping:

Kyle Ryan

Left-handed reliever

Candidates: Ian Krol, Blaine Hardy, Kyle Ryan, Omar Duran and Joe Mantiply.

Current frontrunner: Kyle Ryan.

Breakdown: Ausmus is considering the idea of opening the season with three left-handed relievers. Of course, much of his decision will be based on whether he feels right-hander Bruce Rondon is healthy enough to start the season in Detroit.

If Rondon is healthy, chances are the Tigers will only need two lefties. Tom Gorzelanny is a near lock, largely because the Tigers offered him a guaranteed contract and have invested $1 million in him this season. So who's the second?

Right now, Ryan has clearly outperformed his competition. Duran and Mantiply, both non-roster invitees, likely are ticketed to open the season in Toledo and Erie, respectively. Krol has looked strong this spring, but he's generally viewed as a one-inning guy. Hardy can pitch multiple innings, but he's been hit hard this spring. It's still early, but Ryan seems like the best bet to make the 25-man team.

Prediction: Kyle Ryan.

James McCann

Backup catcher

Candidates: James McCann, Bryan Holaday.

Current frontrunner: James McCann.

Breakdown: There's reason to be concerned about McCann's defense. He's already been charged with two passed balls, and opponents -- as is the case with most rookie catchers -- are running on him at will. But McCann has proven he can handle a major league staff and call a strong game. Above all, he's proven that his bat is ready for the big leagues. Given the health concerns with Alex Avila, and McCann's knack for hitting left-handed pitching, it's pretty much a no-brainer that McCann -- not Holaday -- should be named the backup behind Avila this season.

Prediction: James McCann.

Angel Nesbitt

Right-handed reliever

Candidates: Buck Farmer, Alberto Cabrera, Rafael Dolis, Luke Putkonen, Angel Nesbitt, Jose Valdez, Alex Wilson, Josh Zeid.

Current frontrunner: Angel Nesbitt.

Breakdown: When the Tigers signed Joba Chamberlain to a one-year deal late last month, it pretty much ruined any shot for any other right-handed candidate to crack the opening day roster. However, that could change if Rondon isn't ready.

In the event Rondon doesn't start the season in Detroit, and Ausmus has no interest in carrying three left-handed relievers, he may decide to go with one of the names mentioned above. Entering spring, Zeid and Wilson seemed like their best candidates, but Tigers prospect Angel Nesbitt has quickly risen to the top.

Cabrera, Dolis and Putkonen -- all non-roster invitees -- have done little to impress this spring, and all seem poised to start the season in Toledo. Farmer got off to a rough start and will likely open the season in Triple-A's rotation, and neither Wilson or Zeid have done much of anything this spring that would warrant a roster spot.

Right now, Nesbitt looks like he's ready for the majors. But too many things need to go wrong in order for Nesbitt to get a shot. Rondon hasn't been limited by his elbow, and based on his first couple appearances, it looks like he should be ready.

Prediction: None.

Hernan Perez

Super-utility player

Candidates: Andrew Romine, Hernan Perez.

Current frontrunner: Hernan Perez.

Breakdown: Ausmus hasn't ruled out the possibility of both Romine and Perez opening the season in Detroit. The Tigers already have four outfielders, and there might not be a strong need for a fifth. By keeping both, the Tigers also could avoid the risk of losing one of them off waivers -- as neither player has any remaining options. But keeping both might not make the best sense, largely because it would most certainly mean the Tigers couldn't add outfielder Tyler Collins -- or any other left-handed bat -- to their opening day roster.

If the Tigers decide not to keep both, they must decide who to keep between Romine or Perez. Which is a tough call. Of the two, Romine probably has the best shot to pass through waivers unclaimed. However, Romine is clearly the better defensive player of the two, which the Tigers may view as more important right now given the injuries to Jose Iglesias and Miguel Cabrera, and the defensive shortcomings of Nick Castellanos at third base.

Then again, Perez isn't a poor defender by any means, and he has made great strides this past year to improve his offense. His offensive upside is significantly better than what they'd get from Romine. And that's why he's the early favorite.

Prediction: Hernan Perez.

Tyler Collins

Fifth outfielder

Candidates: Tyler Collins, Steven Moya, Xavier Avery, Daniel Fields.

Current frontrunner: Tyler Collins.

Breakdown: Collins may be competing with Moya, Avery and Fields, but -- truth be told -- his biggest competition is Romine and Perez. If the Tigers decide to go with two super-utility players, Collins is a sure bet to open the season in Triple-A Toledo. If Ausmus decides to go with a fifth outfielder instead, Collins is a sure bet to open the season with the Tigers for a second straight year.

There's plenty of reasons why the Tigers would be better with Collins on their roster when they host Minnesota on April 6. The biggest reason? He has a powerful left-handed bat. And -- with the exception of Victor Martinez and, on the rare occasion, Alex Avila -- the Tigers don't have a left-handed hitter with power.

They need a left-handed bat. They need bench depth. They need Tyler Collins.

Steven Moya could fill a similar role, but the Tigers have made it clear they'd like him to open the season in Triple-A Toledo to get everyday at-bats. The same holds true for Daniel Fields, who has been slowed in the past by injuries.

That leaves Avery. But he's not on the 40-man roster and seems like a strong bet to begin the season in Toledo. So by process of elimination, that leaves Collins.

Prediction: Tyler Collins.

-- Download the Detroit Tigers on MLive app for iPhone and Android.

-- Like MLive's Detroit Tigers Facebook page.