With Riley Greene sidelined by a right hamstring strain, the Tigers are making a move that would feel outrageous almost anywhere else: Javier Báez is starting in left field for the first time in his career.
That’s the kind of lineup twist that sounds like a joke until you remember who’s involved. Báez, a Gold Glove-winning shortstop, has barely touched left field in his career - just two innings, according to the setup here - but Detroit is using him there Thursday in the rubber game of the series because, as AJ Hinch put it, “He’s all in.”
“He’s all in,” Hinch said before the game Thursday. “Javier is a baseball player. I don’t worry about that part.”
The move gives Hinch more ways to shape the lineup against Guardians left-hander Parker Messick. By putting Báez in left, Detroit can start right-handed hitter Hao-Yu Lee at third, slide Kevin McGonigle to shortstop, keep Gleyber Torres at second and use catcher Eduardo Valencia as the designated hitter. The result is a lineup with seven right-handed hitters.
“Something was going to happen in game where we were going to have to put Javy on a corner,” Hinch said. “We talked about that a couple of days ago and something did happen now (with Greene) where some time opened up in left field. I think I have right field, first base and catcher left (in terms of positions Báez hasn’t played).
“No promises on any of those.”
Hinch said left field made more sense than right field because it’s on the same side of the field as shortstop, where Báez has spent most of his career.
“I don’t know if it’s easier but it feels easier,” Hinch said. “I don’t know if there’s any real evidence behind that.
It is an extension of shortstop and something outfield coaches have told me. But I was a catcher, man.
I can’t tell you if left field is easier or not. It does have the same angles and the same looks.”
Báez is not expected to handle the job every day, and Hinch doesn’t expect him to stay in left for a full game unless Messick works nine innings. Trei Cruz, who was called up Thursday after James Outman went on concussion protocol, and Ben Malgeri, who started in right field Thursday, are also expected to share time there.
Before the game, Báez was out in left taking fly balls. He finished the session by tracking a ball toward the fence, jumping and making the catch before it carried into the bullpen.
“He’s told me over and over, he grew up as a baseball player,” Hinch said. “He can play anywhere.”
The series continues at Comerica Park with first pitch set for Friday at 6:40 p.m., Saturday at 1:10 p.m. and Sunday at 1:40 p.m. All three games will be on DSN/97.1, 107.9.
The pitching matchups are listed as TBA against right-hander Jackson Jobe, who is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, on Friday; left-hander Anthony Kay, 9-5 with a 3.96 ERA, against right-hander Troy Melton, 7-1 with a 1.46 ERA, on Saturday; and right-hander Sean Burke, 7-6 with a 2.99 ERA, against right-hander Drew Anderson, 4-4 with a 3.91 ERA, on Sunday.
The White Sox have not announced their starter for Friday.
Jobe made a loud statement in his return Saturday in San Francisco, allowing one hit over five scoreless innings with four strikeouts in his first start in 14 months after Tommy John surgery. He worked all five of his pitches well, sat at 98 mph with his four-seamer and touched 100, posted 2,400-rpm ride on the fastball and generated five whiffs on 17 swings.
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