Mike Fiers was awful in 2017. He was also awful in spring training this year. But after missing the first week of the season with a back injury, Fiers will start for the Tigers on Sunday against the Chicago White Sox. The move displaces Daniel Norris, who many have expected (and wanted) to stick in the rotation for most of 2018.
Norris was also awful in 2017. However, the difference is that Norris is eight years younger, had success as recently as 2016, and was not awful during Spring Training. It does not make much sense to skip Norris’ first start of the year in favor of Fiers, who is coming back from a back injury.