Vierling is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Royals.
Vierling has started in each of the Tigers' last six games, going 6-for-21 with three runs, one double and one triple over that span. Against Royals right-hander Brady Singer, the Tigers will start lefty-hitting Zach McKinstry at third base.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Parker Meadows: Sitting against righty
Rotowire
Meadows is not in the Tigers' starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Royals.
Meadows will get a rest day Saturday after starting in each of the Tigers' last seven games. He has struggled over that span, going 2-for-24 with three runs and a solo home run while striking out 12 times. The switch-hitting Wenceel Perez will start at center field Saturday and bat third against Royals right-hander Brady Singer.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Andy Ibanez: Continuing rehab assignment
Rotowire
Ibanez (hamstring) will start at second base for Triple-A Toledo on Sunday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Ibanez has played two games in Triple-A as part of his rehab assignment, going 3-for-6 with two doubles and one RBI over that span. If all goes well in Sunday's stint, Ibanez could be available for the Tigers' next series against the Cardinals starting Monday.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Carson Kelly: Won't start, but available Saturday
Rotowire
Kelly (ribs) is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Royals.
Kelly was scratched ahead of Friday's game against Kansas City due to left ribcage soreness. While Kelly won't start Saturday, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that the backup catcher is available for the contest, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Tyler Holton: Struggles in Friday's loss
Rotowire
Holton allowed five earned runs while retiring just a single batter in Friday's 8-0 loss to the Royals. He gave up two hits and a walk.
Holton was ineffective in this one, and his ERA jumped from 1.50 to 5.11 in the process. The lefty was good for the Tigers last season, posting a 2.11 ERA and 0.87 WHIP across 85.1 innings, so this was likely just a blip on the radar. He'll have to string together a few strong performances to get his ERA back down to a more acceptable number, however.
Olson (0-4) took the loss Friday against the Royals after he allowed one run on three hits and three walks over seven innings. He struck out eight.
The right-hander allowed a run on two hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly during the third inning but otherwise kept Kansas City off the board. It wasn't enough to prevent Olson's fourth straight loss, however, as Detroit was shut out for the third time this season. Despite the ugly record, the 24-year-old has a strong 3.18 ERA through five starts, though a 1.31 WHIP and 26:11 K:BB aren't quite as attractive.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Carson Kelly: Wasn't available after all
Rotowire
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Kelly (ribs) wasn't available off the bench after all Friday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Kelly was a late scratch from the lineup after his left ribcage "locked up" on him pregame. While the team isn't overly concerned about the injury, Hinch indicated that the injured list is a possibility since the club doesn't want to play short at catcher. Jake Rogers will be the Tigers' primary backstop while Kelly recovers.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Carson Kelly: Scratched with sore ribcage
Rotowire
Kelly was scratched from the lineup for Friday's game against the Royals due to left ribcage soreness.
The Tigers are saying Kelly will be available off the bench, so while the injury was enough to knock him out of the starting lineup, it doesn't sound like it's a long-term concern. Jake Rogers will now do the catching for Reese Olson.
Kennedy went 1-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Rays.
Getting the start at second base and batting seventh with Tampa Bay southpaw Tyler Alexander set for a bulk relief outing, Kennedy swiped his first career base in the majors while collecting his second hit since his promotion. The 25-year-old has supplied a homer and four RBI in four games, and he could spot in around the Tigers' injury-weakened infield more often than expected if he continues to produce.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Jack Flaherty: Six Ks in no-decision
Rotowire
Flaherty came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Rays, giving up four runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.
The veteran righty stumbled early, giving up a solo shot to Randy Arozarena in the first inning and three more runs in the second, but he settled down after that and the Tigers took him off the hook for a loss in the top of the sixth. Flaherty generated 30 called or swinging strikes among his 97 pitches, but he's having difficulty keeping the ball in the park -- he's served up a homer in all five of his starts, fueling a 4.91 ERA that isn't in sync with his 1.16 WHIP or 36:4 K:BB through 29.1 innings. He lines up for a potential revenge game in his next trip to the mound, a home matchup early next week against the Cardinals.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Will Vest: Struggles in first loss
Rotowire
Vest (1-1) allowed three runs on three hits across an inning of work to take the loss Wednesday against the Rays. He struck out one.
Vest has been mostly good so far this season, though his ERA climbed from 1.64 to 3.75 with this clunker. The righty turned in a 2.98 ERA across 48 games last year, so this poor performance will likely just be a blip on the radar. Vest should remain locked into a high-leverage setup role for the Tigers, but his fantasy value is somewhat limited because he's not seeing save opportunities at the moment.
Tigers' Matt Vierling: Triples in Wednesday's loss
Rotowire
Vierling went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Rays.
With Gio Urshela (hamstring) and Andy Ibanez (hamstring) both on the injured list, Vierling has been seeing regular time at third base recently. He's now batting a solid .273, and the 27-year-old will retain some fantasy value as long he's starting most days. It remains to be seen what the Tigers will do when Urshela or Ibanez returns, though Vierling will likely shift into a utility role, as he's capable of playing in the outfield as well as at the hot corner.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Kerry Carpenter: Gets day off
Rotowire
Carpenter is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
The lefty-hitting Carpenter's absence from the lineup is likely a result of the Rays' plan to deploy southpaw Tyler Alexander as their primary pitcher out of the bullpen. With Carpenter on the bench for the first time since April 9, Riley Greene and Wenceel Perez will occupy the corner-outfield spots while Mark Canha serves as Detroit's designated hitter.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Colt Keith: On bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Keith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
Keith will cede the keystone to Buddy Kennedy, marking the rookie's second absence from the lineup in four games. The 22-year-old has opened his big-league career with a .165/.224/.177 slash line through his first 85 plate appearances, and his ongoing struggles could be starting to cost him some playing time.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Eddys Leonard: May resume baseball activities soon
Rotowire
The Tigers announced Tuesday that Leonard (oblique) will be re-evaluated next week and could begin a baseball progression program, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Leonard, who is a member of the Tigers' 40-man roster, was placed on Triple-A Toledo's 7-day injured list on April 9 after straining his left oblique. He's been able to complete daily rehab since being shut down with the injury, but Leonard has yet to get back on the field for hitting, fielding or running.
