Pitching is the name of the game as June's First-Year Player Draft approaches.

In 2011, the first four picks were pitchers and seven-straight were taken after Matt Bush went No. 1 overall in 2004. Jim Callis writes that this year could set a new record for pitchers drafted in the first round. The current standard is 20, which came in 2001.

"There could be eight or nine pitchers taken in the top 10," a scouting director with an American League team said. "How many can go in the top 15? Twelve? Thirteen? There are so many arms. This is a deeper pool of players than last year, especially with pitchers."

The consensus top four prospects in the Draft, to be held June 5-7, are all pitchers.

Anibal Sanchez has landed on the 15-day disabled list because of a blister problem.

The right-hander is 0-2 with a 3.13 ERA in five starts for the Detroit Tigers this season.

Sanchez left in the third inning of Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins with a blister on his right middle finger.

Miguel Cabrera, winner of the last two American League MVP awards, has had a slow start to the 2014 season.

Cabrera is hitting .206/.275/.333 with one home run, seven RBIs and 15 strikeouts in 69 plate appearances.

A career .320/.398/.565 hitter, the 31-year-old has never hit lower than .292 with a .349 on-base percentage in a full season. He signed a $292 contract extension with the Detroit Tigers this spring that runs through the 2023 season.

While Cabrera has plenty of time to rebound from his slow start, he is in new territory. Take a look at Cabrera's slash line every season through 16 games.

2004: .328/.414/.656

2005: .323/.371/.500

2006: .317/.406/.567

2007: .327/.424/.673

2008: .283/.348/.500

2009: .410/.471/.639

2010: .365/.452/.667

2011: .304/.429/.643

2012: .290/.357/.500

2013: .348/.416/.493

2014: .206/.275/.333

As you'll see, Cabrera has hit under .300 just twice through 16 games in his Hall of Fame career. Each of those seasons he was hitting at least .283 with a .500 slugging percentage.

Looking at more advanced numbers, Cabrera's 21.7% strikeout percentage jumps off the screen. The figure represents the highest mark of his career over a full season -- his SO% was 24.3 in his rookie year (2003, 346 PAs). As you might expect, his walk percentage is lower than we've come to expect. At 8.7%, it marks the second-lowest rate of his career. Over the 2008 season, Cabrera walked in just 8.2% of his plate appearances.

Most alarmingly, Cabrera has suffered from a severe power outage early this season. His slugging percentage (.333) more closely resembles his career batting average than anything else. He is averaging a home run every 63 at-bats, which is nearly triple the lowest rate of his career and five times his career-best 12.6 AB/HR in 2013. Only 4.2% of his fly balls have left the park, a staggeringly low mark.

Cabrera will eventually work his way out of what can officially be called a slump, but his numbers are troubling nonetheless.

The Tigers have released Opening Day shortstop Alex Gonzalez and purchased the contract of infielder Danny Worth from Triple-A Toledo, according to an ESPN.com report. 

Detroit has struggled to fill the hole at shortstop after letting Jhonny Peralta leave via free agency and losing Jose Inglesis.

Omar Vizquel, who is in his first season as the first base coach of the Detroit Tigers, was asked about a potential comeback this spring.

Detroit lost Jose Iglesias to stress fractures in both legs, creating a hole at shortstop.

"They asked me if I wanted to come and take some grounders," said Vizquel, 46. "'I said, 'No, I've been retired for two years.'"

Prince Fielder hit a home run against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night, his first with the Texas Rangers.

Fielder had gone 51 at-bats to start the season without a home run before that blast, but also 109 at-bats going back to last year with the Tigers, including postseason.

The Rangers acquired Fielder in a trade with the Tigers this offseason.

Kendrys Morales and Stephen Drew, who have been working out in Florida for the last six weeks, are beginning to drew significant interest from teams.

Several teams have visited Morales and Drew to scout them recently.

The Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers are believed to be among the clubs interested in Morales, while the Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees have been linked to Drew other the last few months.

The Detroit Tigers have claimed lefty Mike Belfiore off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles.

Detroit optioned Belfiore to Triple-A.

Belfiore, 25, has no meaningful Major League experience but threw to a 3.18 ERA in 76 1/3 Triple-A innings (in just 37 appearances) last year.

More details of Miguel Cabrera's huge contract extension with the Detroit Tigers are coming to light.

In addition to the $248 million that he is guaranteed, Cabrera can earn up to $4 million annually through award bonuses.

That includes $2 million for each MVP he wins and $1 million for each Triple Crown.