Jordan Zimmermann was lights out with the Detroit Tigers through April and May, posting an 8-2 record with a 2.58 ERA. With Justin Verlander getting off to a slow start during the season’s first two months, Zimmermann was the steady force in the Tigers rotation.
The recipient of a five-year, $110 million dollar contract, Zimmermann looked worth every penny (and perhaps a bargain) early on.
When the calendar flipped to June, however, things started going in the wrong direction.
A seven-run outing in Toronto on June 8th was the start of Zimmermann’s downfall. He gave up four or more earned runs in four of his next five starts.