The Tigers are back on the road for the last time before the first half wraps up, and they’re heading into the Bronx with a lineup that looks a little different from the one fans have gotten used to.
Detroit just finished a 10-game homestand at 5-5, and now it opens another three-game set with the Yankees after losing two of three to New York at Comerica Park earlier this week. The Tigers are also trying to find their way to a road series win for the first time since sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays at the start of June.
A.J. Hinch is giving the ball to Casey Mize, who is looking for a better result after his last start against the Yankees, when he gave up four runs and took the loss. New York will counter with Ryan Weathers, who beat the Tigers in his previous outing while allowing six hits and two runs over six innings.
The lineup Hinch is rolling out for the opener is:
- LF Matt Vierling
- C Dillon Dingler
- 3B Kevin McGonigle
- 1B Spencer Torkelson
- 2B Hao-Yu Lee
- DH Jahmai Jones
- SS Zach McKinstry
- RF Ben Malgeri
- CF James Outman
The biggest change is the absence of Riley Greene, who is not active for this one. He’s been scuffling at the plate lately, batting just above .230 over the last seven days, and this move is strictly about rest, not anything injury-related.
Torkelson is back in the starting nine after sitting out the series finale against the Houston Astros. He wound up playing anyway and delivered, going 2-for-2 with a home run in Detroit’s 7-5 extra-inning loss.
He’s had some success against the Yankees before, with four homers in his career against them, though his overall line against New York sits at .215. He enters this game hitting .213 on the season, and Detroit’s offense tends to go as Torkelson goes.
There’s also plenty of attention on the younger bats. Hao-Yu Lee has been one of the bright spots lately, especially in June, when he’s hit .354 with two home runs and a .916 OPS.
Kevin McGonigle has been Detroit’s best hitter this season outside of Dillon Dingler, and he’s still trying to snap out of a small lull. Even so, the young infielder is now one hit away from matching his May total.
In Other News...
Tigers Linked To Deadline Bat That Could Finally Steady This Lineup
As the deadline approaches, the Tigers are doing what contenders tend to do when the lineup starts to feel a little too easy to pitch around: looking for a bat that can change the shape of an inning. San Francisco outfielder Jung Hoo Lee has emerged as the name worth watching, and his season has given him plenty of appeal. He has been one of the steadiest hitters on the market, pairing a high average with strong contact skills and enough extra-base pop to make him more than just a table-setter.
Getting him, though, would not be simple. Buster Posey has signaled that most of the Giants roster could be in play aside from Logan Webb, which only raises the competition and the cost for anyone calling on Lee. Detroit would likely have to put together a serious offer, especially with Lee holding a player option after the 2027 season, the kind of detail that can turn a rental pursuit into something much more attractive for a club trying to stabilize its offense beyond this summer. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Head To The Bronx With One Big Concern Looming
A trip to the Bronx can tighten the shoulders of a pitching staff in a hurry, and the Tigers head into New York carrying exactly that kind of baggage after a rough finish in Houston. Detroit got five shutout innings and nine strikeouts from Jack Flaherty, but a 3-0 lead slipped away and turned into a 7-5 loss in 10 innings, the sort of defeat that lingers when a road swing is just getting started.
Now the focus shifts to a six-game series against the Yankees, with Casey Mize taking the ball for Detroit in the opener against left-hander Ryan Weathers. The matchup offers the Tigers a chance to steady themselves quickly, but it also puts more pressure on a team already looking for a cleaner answer after the bullpen let a win get away. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Move On From Lefty As Bullpen Reality Sets In
The Tigers trimmed a bit of bullpen depth earlier this week when they moved on from left-hander Konnor Pilkington, a minor league signing who had been in the organization since before Spring Training. Pilkington spent his time with Triple-A Toledo, trying to carve out a path back to the majors, but the numbers again pointed to the same issue that has followed him through his pro career: inconsistent strike throwing.
Even in Toledo, where the Tigers were hoping to find a usable lefty option, Pilkington never got the command piece to settle in. He had the kind of performance that forces a club to keep looking for sturdier relief help, and with one minor league option still available, there is at least some roster flexibility in play as Detroit continues sorting through its bullpen picture. [Read more 🡒]