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Brett Callahan Brett Callahan Slugs first major-league homer
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 8:16 PM
Callahan went 2-for-3 with a solo home run during the Tigers' 4-1 loss to the Pirates on Tuesday.
Analysis: The Tigers didn't have much of an answer for Braxton Ashcraft, but Callahan was responsible for two of Detroit's five hits off the right-hander, one which was a solo homer in the fifth inning. It was the first home run of Callahan's career, and the 24-year-old outfielder has gone 4-for-9 with five RBI and two extra-base hits since being promoted from Triple-A Toledo on Sunday. |
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Keider Montero Keider Montero Yields three runs in fifth for loss
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 8:12 PM
Montero (9-8) took the loss against the Pirates on Tuesday, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out three across five innings.
Analysis: Montero looked to be in complete control of Tuesday's game after retiring the first 12 batters he faced. That momentum quickly shifted in the fifth, when he opened the inning with a walk before yielding a two-run homer to Oneil Cruz. Montero gave up another run in the frame and didn't come back out for the sixth, ultimately taking the loss as his Tigers teammates provided little offense against Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft. Montero will take a 3.30 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over 133.2 innings into his next start, slated for next week at home against the Rays in what projects to be a two-start week. |
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Kerry Carpenter Kerry Carpenter Rehab process on hold
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 4:34 PM
Carpenter (foot) will pause his rehab program after suffering a setback, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Carpenter will have his foot partially immobilized for the next few days, by which time his rehab will resume based on his symptoms. The 28-year-old is recovering from plantar fasciitis in his right foot that caused him to go on the 10-day IL in late July. The Tigers should have a better idea of Carpenter's new return timeline once he's cleared to resume baseball activities. |
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Trei Cruz Trei Cruz Stays in organization
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 3:19 PM
The Tigers outrighted Cruz to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Analysis: Cruz was removed from the Tigers' 40-man roster this past weekend, but he will stay in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The utility player has slashed only .230/.306/.309 at Toledo this season and is hitless in five plate appearances in the majors. |
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Dillon Dingler Dillon Dingler Getting breather Tuesday
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 2:22 PM
Dingler is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game in Pittsburgh.
Analysis: It's a well-earned day off for Dingler, who had made 20 consecutive starts (15 at catcher, five at designated hitter). Eduardo Valencia will do the catching and will bat cleanup for the Tigers. |
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Zach McKinstry Zach McKinstry Tallies three hits in win
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 10:47 PM
McKinstry went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's 8-5 win over the Pirates.
Analysis: McKinstry matched his season high with the three hits, and both of those performances have come this month. After a rough start to the year, the utility player has found his groove in August with a .326/.442/.419 slash line across 15 games. McKinstry's defensive versatility should keep him in the lineup most days, and he's starting to deliver some production for fantasy managers. |
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Hao-Yu Lee Hao-Yu Lee Reaches five times in win
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 10:42 PM
Lee went 3-for-3 with two walks, two RBI and a run scored in Monday's 8-5 win over the Pirates.
Analysis: Lee set a new season high with three hits and also set a season high by reaching base five times. The rookie infielder hasn't quite found an everyday role with the Tigers, but he's performed well when given an opportunity with a .275 batting average and .737 OPS. If Detroit falls out of playoff contention down the stretch, Lee could see his role grow if the team prioritizes its younger players. |
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Kevin McGonigle Kevin McGonigle Tees off in win
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 10:27 PM
McGonigle went 2-for-6 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 8-5 win over the Pirates.
Analysis: McGonigle snapped a mini 0-for-7 slump over his last two games with a solid performance that included his 13th home run of the season. Three of those long balls have come in 14 contests this month, and the youngster has been showing more power overall as the year has gone along, as he had just three homers through the end of May. McGonigle has had a great debut campaign so far and seems well on his way to winning the AL Rookie of the Year award. |
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Kenley Jansen Kenley Jansen Nails down 16th save
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 10:07 PM
Jansen struck out two in a clean ninth inning to notch the save Monday against the Pirates.
Analysis: Jansen made quick work of the Pittsburgh bats, dropping seven of his eight pitches into the strike zone Monday. The veteran right-hander is eight saves away from joining the prestigious 500-save club, so he's firmly within striking distance to accomplish that feat in 2026 if he stays healthy the rest of the way. Jansen, who last blew a save May 24 in Baltimore, has a 3.74 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 39:20 K:BB with 16 saves (20 chances) over 33.2 innings. |
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Framber Valdez Framber Valdez Crumbles in sixth inning
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 9:54 PM
Valdez (8-8) earned the win against the Pirates on Monday, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: Valdez was cruising along over four scoreless innings initially, but Pittsburgh got to him for four of his five runs allowed in the sixth inning. The left-hander continues to put forth an up-and-down debut season with the Tigers, conceding four earned runs in back-to-back outings to follow up a pair of quality starts to begin August. Valdez is set to bring a 4.35 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 111:54 K:BB over 138.2 innings into a soft matchup against the lowly Royals in Kansas City. |
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Kerry Carpenter Kerry Carpenter Sent to foot specialist
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 4:56 PM
Tigers manager AJ Hinch said Monday that Carpenter has been sent to a foot specialist, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Analysis: The results of Carpenter's evaluation will come out Tuesday, but it's not a great sign as 28-year-old continues to rehab from right foot plantar fasciitis that landed him on the 10-day injured list in late July. In Carpenter's absence, the Tigers have rotated between Colt Keith, Dillon Dingler, Eduardo Valencia and Gleyber Torres at designated hitter. |
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Spencer Torkelson Spencer Torkelson Idle for series opener in Pittsburgh
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 4:19 PM
Torkelson is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Pirates.
Analysis: After putting together an eight-game hitting streak from Aug. 6 through Friday while getting on base at a .529 clip during that stretch, Torkelson closed out the Tigers' weekend series versus the White Sox with a whimper, going 0-for-7 with a walk in the final two contests. The Tigers will give Torkelson a night off to regroup, with Colt Keith spelling him at first base Monday. |
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Jack Flaherty Jack Flaherty Throwing, but lacks clear return date
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 5:00 PM
The Tigers announced Friday that Flaherty (forearm) has increased the intensity and distance of his throwing progression, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Flaherty doesn't appear to have been cleared to start throwing off a mound just yet as he works his way back from right flexor inflammation, so he looks like he could still be at least a couple of weeks away from potentially returning from the 15-day injured list. Since he's been on the shelf for less than a month, the right-hander probably still has time to get stretched back out for a starting role, but he'll need to avoid any setbacks while he builds up. |
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Eduardo Valencia Eduardo Valencia Sitting after three straight starts
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 12:43 PM
Valencia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
Analysis: Valencia started the last three games, all against left-handed pitchers, and went 5-for-11 with two home runs, a double and four RBI, but he'll head to the bench against White Sox righty Sean Burke. The Tigers haven't yet cleared the way for Valencia to receive a full run of at-bats against right-handed pitching, but with a 1.291 OPS through his first 54 plate appearances in the majors, it wouldn't be a surprise if he soon gets a look in a near-everyday role between catcher and DH. |
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Trei Cruz Trei Cruz DFA'd by Detroit
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 9:30 AM
The Tigers designated Cruz for assignment Sunday.
Analysis: After appearing in two games for the Tigers in June, Cruz went unused during his latest stint in Detroit after being called up from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday. He'll wind up giving up his spot on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster to outfielder Brett Callahan, whose contract was selected from Toledo. The 28-year-old Cruz will now be subject to the waiver process, but if he goes unclaimed, he'll stick around in the organization and report to Triple-A. |
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Brett Callahan Called up for MLB debut
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 9:29 AM
The Tigers selected Callahan's contract from Triple-A Toledo on Sunday. He'll start in left field and bat seventh in the series finale versus the White Sox.
Analysis: Trei Cruz was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. The 24-year-old Callahan opened the season at Double-A Erie and posted an .879 OPS in 59 games to earn a bump up to Triple-A on June 23, where he slashed .271/.351/.338 with one home run and nine steals across 151 plate appearances and saw time at all three outfield spots. He could get a look as a strong-side platoon player until the banged-up Tigers get healthier. |
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Drew Sommers Drew Sommers Charged with loss Saturday
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 7:27 AM
Sommers (0-3) allowed one run on two hits in two innings of relief and was charged with the loss in Saturday's 4-3 defeat to the White Sox. He walked one and struck out four.
Analysis: The lefty reliever pitched decently but was charged with a tough-luck loss, taking the mound after starter Troy Melton covered just 4.1 innings. Sommers has been asked to log only 22 frames so far this season in the majors, but he's mostly been sharp despite his winless record with a 3.68 ERA and 34 strikeouts. He doesn't have a ton of fantasy appeal at the moment, however, given his lower-leverage role in Detroit's bullpen. |
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Eduardo Valencia Eduardo Valencia Pops another home run Saturday
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 7:18 AM
Valencia went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the White Sox.
Analysis: While he's stuck behind Dillon Dingler on the depth chart, Valencia has managed to carve out some standalone fantasy value with his bat. The 26-year-old rookie has gone deep twice in his last three games and has six home runs overall through 18 contests to go along with a robust 1.291 OPS. Dingler has been excellent in his own right, so Valencia is highly unlikely to surpass him as Detroit's top catcher anytime soon. The Tigers could find more opportunities to get both sluggers into the lineup by using one as the DH, however. |
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Gleyber Torres Gleyber Torres Three hits against ChiSox
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 4:36 PM
Torres went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the White Sox.
Analysis: The second baseman did his job setting the table, but the heart of Detroit's order couldn't take advantage. Torres has three multi-hit efforts in his last four games, and through 13 contests in August he's batting .288 (15-for-52) with three homers, 10 RBI and 11 runs. |
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Troy Melton Troy Melton Inefficient in no-decision Saturday
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 4:33 PM
Melton didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the White Sox, giving up three runs on nine hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: It was the shortest outing of the season for Melton, who got the hook after 87 pitches (56 strikes) with the score tied 3-3. The right-hander continues to be stingy with long balls, though -- he didn't give up a homer for a fourth straight start Saturday, and since the beginning of July he's been taken deep just once in eight trips to the mound, posting a 1.16 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 48:16 K:BB over 46.2 innings. Melton will look to bounce back in his next start, which is set to come on the road next weekend in Kansas City. |
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