Tonight's Lineup vs. The Athletics (7/9)

[Peter Welch]

Tonight's lineup vs. lefty "opener" Jose Suarez (4.59 ERA in 29 games, 1 starts).  Righty Jack Perkins (6.75 ERA) could be scheduled to come in for Suarez after an inning or two.

1. Kevin McGonigle (L) 3B
2. Matt Vierling (R) RF
3. Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
4. Riley Greene (L) LF
5. Hao-Yu Lee (R) 2B
6. Kerry Carpenter (L) DH
7. Zach McKinstry (L) SS
8. Jake Rogers (R) C
9. James Outman (L) CF

Lefty Framber Valdez (4.29 ERA in 18 starts) on the mound for the Tigers.  Who knows what we'll get?

Guardians beat the Twins 5-2 this afternoon.  White Sox are losing 2-1 in the 8^th to the Red Sox.

Tigers have a chance to gain a little more ground.

Peter

[Jeffrey Withey]

Another idiotic lineup from Hinch. There is absolutely zero reason to be playing McKinstry at SS. He is not a good defensive SS and McGonigle is. McGonigle should be playing SS every day, and stick McKinstry at 3B if you have to play him.

McKinstry made an error at SS last night, was moved to 2B later in the game and made essentially another error there (it wasn't charged as an error, but he booted a double play ball and just managed to get an out at 1st.)

Bouncing players around the field is just stupid unless you have no other options.

Also, given that half this lineup can't hit at all, we better hope they bring the rightly in early. There is no way Keith and Carpenter are worse hitters against a lefty than most of this this sorry group.

-Jeff

Jeffrey H. Withey, Ph.D.

Professor and Interim Chair

 

Dept. of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology

Wayne State University School of Medicine

540 E. Canfield

Detroit, MI 48201

Withey lab website

 

 

 

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2026 4:26 PM
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Subject: Tonight's Lineup vs. The Athletics (7/9)

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[Roger King]

What is the explanation for McGonigle not playing SS and McKinstry not playing 3rd?  They are both in the lineup.  Weird. 

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[Paul Meloche]

Or Keith at 3B and McG at SS since it was clear the Athletics starter would just be an opener.

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[Peter Welch]

Valdez with perhaps his best start of the season tonight: 7 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 9 Ks, 0 walks.  Nice!

Tigers lead 4-1 in the bottom of the 8th.

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Paul Meloche <meloc...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2026 7:42 PM
To: Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>
Cc: Jeffrey Withey <jwi...@med.wayne.edu>; Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>; detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Tonight's Lineup vs. The Athletics (7/9)

 

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[Peter Welch]

Jansen gets a roller coaster save. Things got a bit scary in the 9th.  Tigers win 4-1.

Tigers are now 4.5 behind 1^st and 3.5 behind the Wild Card.

Peter

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Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2026 8:59 PM
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[Paul Meloche]

Jansen wasn’t sharp at all. Walk, single, and two bullets that were hit right at infielders for outs. He did strike out Jonah Heim in the middle of all that but Heim missed at least one fat pitch in that AB. 

Paul M.

On Jul 9, 2026, at 6:24 PM, Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com> wrote:



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[Michael W]

A lineup with Vierling, Lee, McKinstry, Rogers and Outman does look pretty bad.  They did hit two home runs today, which was enough to win the game.  Maybe Valencia will give us another option.

But, I think you buried the lead:  Carpenter got the start against a lefty!  

OK, it was against an "opener" not a true starter, so Hinch's 4D chess said to go with Carpenter.  Today it worked out.

Michael

[Peter Welch]

Getting 2024 vibes lately when we see guys like Rogers, McKinstry, Lee, Malgeri, and even Outman hitting homers or getting clutch hits (hell, even Jahmai Jones hustled down the line and beat out an infield single in a game a couple of weeks ago in a key play that contributed to a win), Valencia getting called up and immediately hitting a homer, opponents making terrible fielding plays late in games that help the Tigers win, pitchers like Melton and Montero pitching way above expectations, etc.

Is the 2024 Magic back? 

Peter

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Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2026 10:45 PM
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Subject: Re: Tonight's Lineup vs. The Athletics (7/9)

 

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[Peter Welch]

I thought we were toast in the 9^th when Jansen came in an walked the first batter and then gave up the 1-out single to Wilson.

He got very lucky with the 2 lineouts.

I think Montero should be closer if they're not going to use him as a starter anymore.  Give Finnegan some looks at closer as well.  He's been pitching better lately.

I don't trust Jansen at all.

Peter

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From: Paul Meloche <meloc...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2026 9:26 PM
To: Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>
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[Peter Welch]

Will Javy Baez be back in August?  I keep reading that his recovery from the ankle injury has been slow and he might not even be back this season.

As for Parker Meadows, from what I've read he will be out for the season.  Meadows' future with the Tigers is in doubt anyway with Max Clark on the way.

I read that Torres could be back sooner than expected.  He's been taking batting practice without pain.

I wonder if Torres will be traded, even if the Tigers are in contention at the deadline.  I kind of hope they don't trade him because he makes our lineup better because of his walks and quality at-bats, and if we are going to make the playoffs he'll be nice to have in the playoffs.  However, I could see Torres being traded since they aren't going to re-sign him and we have some 2B options to replace him (Lee, M. Anderson, McKinstry, etc.).  

I'm not sure what you could get in return for Torres.  Probably not much more than a A-ball lottery ticket.

Peter

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Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2026 10:45 PM
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Subject: Re: Tonight's Lineup vs. The Athletics (7/9)

 

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[Tanvir Shaikh]

I accidentally sent this only to Peter initially.

On Fri, Jul 10, 2026 at 8:02 AM Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com> wrote:

I wonder if Torres will be traded, even if the Tigers are in contention at the deadline.  I kind of hope they don't trade him because he makes our lineup better because of his walks and quality at-bats, and if we are going to make the playoffs he'll be nice to have in the playoffs. 

I agree.  He isn't spectacular, but the lineup seems more stable when he's in there: a spot where we can plug him in and not worry about production.  

 

However, I could see Torres being traded since they aren't going to re-sign him and we have some 2B options to replace him (Lee, M. Anderson, McKinstry, etc.).  

 If we're actually going to experiment with the position, I'd be OK with it.  We have a pretty good idea what McKinstry can do, so that would be be least interesting option to me.

-Tapu