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Dillon Dingler Dillon Dingler Pops homer in nightcap
Sun, May 24, 2026, 8:17 PM
Dingler went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in a 4-1 win over the Orioles in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader.
Analysis: Dingler went 0-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored in the day game. He's hit safely in just two of his last seven contests, but he has two homers in that span while going 3-for-26 (.115). On the year, the catcher is slashing .231/.311/.462 with 10 homers, 31 RBI, 22 runs scored, no stolen bases and 10 doubles over 48 games. |
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Drew Anderson Drew Anderson Grabs two-inning save
Sun, May 24, 2026, 8:14 PM
Anderson allowed a hit and two walks while striking out four over two scoreless innings to earn the save in a 4-1 win over the Orioles in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader.
Analysis: Anderson started his previous outing, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings versus the Guardians on Wednesday. He had previously worked as a multi-inning reliever this season. He's had mixed results with a 3.74 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 42:16 K:BB through 33.2 innings over 17 appearances (one start). He's been better lately, allowing just four runs (three earned) over his last 18.2 innings. Anderson looks poised to return to the bullpen moving forward, and he's unlikely to be among the top choices for high-leverage work in most situations, though he has earned two saves and two holds this season. |
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Troy Melton Troy Melton Steady in season debut
Sun, May 24, 2026, 8:11 PM
Melton (1-0) allowed on run on two hits and three walks while striking out three over 5.2 innings to earn the win in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.
Analysis: Melton threw 48 of 79 pitches for strikes in his first big-league game since last September. He had been sidelined for the first two months of this season due to an elbow strain. The three walks showed some rust, but it was otherwise a positive outing, albeit in a favorable matchup. Last year, he had a 2.76 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 36:15 K:BB over 45.2 innings across 16 regular-season appearances (four starts). Melton is tentatively projected to start versus the White Sox on the road in his next outing. |
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Matt Vierling Matt Vierling Three hits in day game
Sun, May 24, 2026, 3:49 PM
Vierling went 3-for-4 with one RBI in a 5-3 loss to the Orioles in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader.
Analysis: Vierling had gone five contests without a multi-hit effort, though he had a home run and three walks in that span. The outfielder has struggled to string together consistent performances at the plate this season. He's batting .217 with a .668 OPS, four home runs, 21 RBI, 12 runs scored, nine doubles and two stolen bases over 146 plate appearances. He has a clear path to at-bats as long as the Tigers are missing Parker Meadows (arm), Javier Baez (ankle) and Kerry Carpenter (shoulder). |
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Connor Seabold Connor Seabold Cast off 40-man roster
Sun, May 24, 2026, 3:30 PM
The Tigers designated Seabold for assignment Sunday.
Analysis: Seabold will give up his spot on the 40-man roster to right-hander Troy Melton (elbow), who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start the second game of Sunday's doubleheader in Baltimore. Through 11 relief appearances with the Tigers this season, Seabold has posted a 3.45 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB in 15.2 innings. If Seabold isn't claimed off waivers, he'll have the option of electing free agency in lieu of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Toledo. |
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Colt Keith Colt Keith Sitting for nightcap
Sun, May 24, 2026, 3:27 PM
Keith is out of the lineup for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.
Analysis: Keith started at first base in the Tigers' 5-3 loss in Game 1, finishing 1-for-2 with an RBI. With lefty Trevor Rogers starting for the Orioles in the nightcap, Keith will retreat to the bench while Spencer Torkelson re-enters the starting nine at first base. |
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Zach McKinstry Zach McKinstry On bench for nightcap
Sun, May 24, 2026, 3:25 PM
McKinstry is out of the lineup for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.
Analysis: After going 0-for-3 with a walk as the Tigers' leadoff batter in a 5-3 loss earlier in the day, the left-handed-hitting McKinstry will take a seat for the nightcap while the Orioles send southpaw Trevor Rogers to the bump. Hao-Yu Lee will enter the starting nine in place of McKinstry, covering second base while batting eighth. |
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Troy Melton Troy Melton Activated, will start Sunday
Sun, May 24, 2026, 2:59 PM
The Tigers reinstated Melton (elbow) from the 60-day injured list and will have him start the second game of Sunday's doubleheader in Baltimore.
Analysis: Detroit designated right-hander Connor Seabold for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Melton, who will be making his 2026 debut with the Tigers after spending the first two months of the season on the shelf while recovering from a right elbow strain. Melton showed little sign of rust over his four-start rehab assignment (three with Single-A Lakeland, one with Triple-A Toledo), compiling a 1.54 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 16:2 K:BB over 11.2 innings. The 25-year-old right-hander finished the 2025 season as a reliever for Detroit but should be in line for a longer-term look in the big-league rotation this time around while the Tigers wait for the likes of Tarik Skubal (elbow) and Justin Verlander (hip) to return from the IL. Melton covered 63 pitches and five innings in his final rehab start, so he could face some light workload restrictions during Sunday's outing. |
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Framber Valdez Framber Valdez Sharp in no-decision Sunday
Sun, May 24, 2026, 2:52 PM
Valdez allowed one run on two hits across six innings of work and did not factor into the decision in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Orioles. He walked two and struck out five.
Analysis: Valdez allowed a solo home run to Gunnar Henderson in the sixth inning but was otherwise unblemished Sunday. He was at 92 pitches after six innings and maybe could have come back for the seventh, but Detroit turned to its bullpen, which ultimately blew a lead and cost Valdez his third win of the season. It was still an encouraging effort for the lefty, who had allowed 16 runs (13 earned) in 14.2 innings across his last three appearances. This is more what the Tigers expected when they inked Valdez to a three-year, $115 million contract in the offseason, but he's been mostly pedestrian with a 4.28 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 50 strikeouts across 61 innings this year. He'll look to build on this performance in his next outing, which is tentatively scheduled for Friday against the White Sox on the road. |
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Kenley Jansen Kenley Jansen Blows another save Sunday
Sun, May 24, 2026, 2:43 PM
Jansen (1-3) allowed three runs on a hit and two walks across an inning of work to blow the save and take the loss in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Orioles.
Analysis: With Baltimore mounting a rally in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jansen was called on with two outs to face Pete Alonso. The veteran reliever got the slugger out on three pitches, but he had a much harder time when he came back out for the ninth. Jansen walked two batters before allowing a walkoff, three-run home run to Colton Cowser in a 5-3 loss. The setback was Jansen's fourth blown save already in 11 opportunities this year, and it raised his ERA from 3.38 to 5.02. Jansen is third all time and leads all active players with 483 career saves, but with Kyle Finnegan pitching much better out of Detroit's bullpen at the moment, the Tigers could consider a change in the closer role. |
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Ricky Vanasco Ricky Vanasco Back with big club
Sun, May 24, 2026, 10:00 AM
The Tigers recalled Vanasco from Triple-A Toledo on Sunday.
Analysis: Detroit had optioned Vanasco to Triple-A on May 15, but he'll be eligible to rejoin the Tigers in fewer than the minimum 15 days after the team placed left-hander Brant Hurter (spine) on the injured list in a corresponding move. Expect the Tigers to utilize Vanasco mainly in middle relief during his upcoming stint with the big club, after he had yielded eight runs (seven) on 10 hits and four walks over 4.1 innings across his first four appearances of the season with Detroit. |
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Brant Hurter Brant Hurter Shelved with spine inflammation
Sun, May 24, 2026, 9:57 AM
The Tigers placed Hurter on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to lumbar spine inflammation.
Analysis: Hurter was lifted from his most recent relief appearance in Friday's 7-4 win over the Orioles due to what manager A.J. Hinch had referred to as a back issue, and follow-up tests evidently confirmed that the lefty reliever was contending with lumbar inflammation. Detroit recalled right-hander Ricky Vanasco from Triple-A Toledo to replace Hurter on the active roster and in the bullpen. |
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Drew Sommers Drew Sommers Summoned from minors as 27th man
Sun, May 24, 2026, 9:50 AM
The Tigers appointed Summers from Triple-A Toledo to serve as their 27th man for Sunday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.
Analysis: Detroit is expected to return Sommers to Toledo following the twin bill. Sommers made four appearances out of the Tigers bullpen in 2025 but has worked exclusively at Triple-A up to this point in the season, posting a 3.10 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 33:11 K:BB across 20.1 innings. |
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Gage Workman Gage Workman Taking seat for early game
Sun, May 24, 2026, 9:41 AM
Workman is out of the lineup for the first game of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.
Analysis: Since getting called up from Triple-A Toledo on May 10, Workman has provided five extra-base hits (two home runs, three doubles), but he's batting just .188 overall and has struck out in 16 of his 32 plate appearances. Even with Detroit still down three everyday players in Gleyber Torres (oblique), Kerry Carpenter (shoulder) and Javier Baez (ankle), Workman may have to settle for a part-time role if his contact woes continue to persist. |
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Spencer Torkelson Spencer Torkelson Resting for front end of twin bill
Sun, May 24, 2026, 9:37 AM
Torkelson is out of the lineup for the first game of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.
Analysis: Torkelson will take a seat for the first game of the twin bill, but he'll most likely return to the starting nine for the nightcap. Colt Keith will get the nod at first base in the early game. |
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Framber Valdez Framber Valdez Tigers-O's rained out
Sat, May 23, 2026, 11:53 AM
Valdez and the Tigers won't face the Orioles on Saturday, as the game was postponed due to rain.
Analysis: Detroit and Baltimore will play twice Sunday to make up for Saturday's contest, and Valdez will likely get the nod to start one of the two games. The 32-year-old southpaw has conceded 16 runs (13 earned) in 14.2 innings across his last three starts, but he'll have an opportunity to bounce back against an Orioles lineup that's logged a .684 OPS since the beginning of the month. |
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Jack Flaherty Jack Flaherty Takes another loss Friday
Sat, May 23, 2026, 8:47 AM
Flaherty (0-6) allowed six runs (three earned) on eight hits across 3.1 innings to take the loss Friday against the Orioles. He didn't walk anyone and struck out seven.
Analysis: The seven strikeouts were nice, but Flaherty once again struggled overall as he remains winless on the season. The righty has allowed at least three earned runs in five of his last six outings, and he has an ugly 8.37 ERA overall during that stretch. With Tarik Skubal (elbow), Justin Verlander (hip), Reese Olson (shoulder) and Jackson Jobe (elbow) all out with injuries, Detroit doesn't have a ton of other rotation options at the moment, so Flaherty will likely stick as a starter. He'll look to turn things around in his next appearance, which is scheduled for Thursday against the Angels. |
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Hao-Yu Lee Hao-Yu Lee Drives in two Friday
Sat, May 23, 2026, 8:39 AM
Lee went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Orioles.
Analysis: Lee hit an RBI double in the top of the third inning, and then followed with an RBI single in the fourth. With Gleyber Torres (oblique) out since early May, Lee has started the last four games for the struggling Tigers as they look to jump start the offense with some different lineup combinations. The rookie infielder has struggled a bit with a .222/.269/.349 slash line across 24 contests, but if Detroit continues to fall out of contention, the team may give younger players like Lee even more playing time. |
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Kevin McGonigle Kevin McGonigle Hits leadoff home run in loss
Sat, May 23, 2026, 8:31 AM
McGonigle went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Orioles.
Analysis: McGonigle started the scoring with his third home run of the season to lead off the game. The 21-year-old rookie infielder has slowed down a bit with a .222/.349/.306 slash line across his last 10 contests, though his overall slash line of .285/.393/.419 still looks quite good across the board. McGonigle may continue to have some ups and downs as he adjusts to MLB pitching, but he seems to be locked in as Detroit's preferred leadoff option, giving him a fairly high fantasy floor. |
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Burch Smith Burch Smith Placed on injured list
Fri, May 22, 2026, 5:53 PM
The Tigers placed Smith on the 15-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation.
Analysis: Smith gave up one run in two-thirds of an inning during his appearance Thursday and came away from his outing with soreness in his shoulder. He received a cortisone injection Friday to help treat the issue, but he won't be able to avoid spending a couple of weeks on the injured list. Brenan Hanifee was recalled from Triple-A Toledo to fill the open spot in Detroit's bullpen. |
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