Spencer Torkelson getting a breather on Sunday

Torkelson put the cherry on top of the victory with a 389-foot (105.2-mph EV) two-run shot off of Max Lazar in the seventh inning that increased the Tigers’ lead to 10-2. That was his lone knock in four trips to the plate in the ballgame. On the season, the 26-year-old slugger is hitting just .213/.311/.412 with 16 homers and 43 RBI. The Tigers will need his bat to continue to heat up if they’re going to make a serious push towards the postseason.

Keith ambushed a first-pitch fastball from Max Lazar in the seventh inning for a 415-foot (101.1-mph EV) solo shot that increased the Tigers’ advantage to 8-2. That would be his only hit in five at-bats on the evening. For the season, the 24-year-old infielder is slashing an underwhelming .249/.296/.398 with the aforementioned eight long balls and 22 RBI.

Tork’s homer was a three-run shot off Jeffrey Springs that blew the game open for Detroit. The 26-year-old has been the Tigers’ everyday first baseman this season, but he isn’t hitting as well as he did in either of his two best seasons. Following some years when he was up and down between Triple-A and the majors, the Tigers are giving him plenty of chances to prove he belongs. He’ll need a strong second half to cement himself as part of the core heading into the offseason. Notably, Tork’s strikeout rate is over 30% this season for the first time in his career.

It’d be nice if Keith got to play a full game once in a while, but to go along with his issues against lefties — which are probably exacerbated by him hardly ever getting to face them — he’s just not one of the Tigers’ better defensive infielders. Keith’s homer off J.T. Ginn was his seventh in his last 20 games after he hit zero in his first 62.

With left-hander Sean Newcomb toeing the slab for the White Sox, Keith will have to wait to make his entrance into the ballgame until the Pale Hose go to the bullpen. Zach McKinstry will start at shortstop and bat ninth while Kevin McGonigle slides over to cover the hot corner.

Keith wound up missing just one game due to right wrist soreness following a three-homer explosion during Monday’s series opener. The 24-year-old underwent precautionary X-rays that didn’t reveal any fractures.

Keith appears poised to return to Detroit’s lineup for Wednesday afternoon’s series finale against Houston after being scratched from Tuesday’s contest with right wrist soreness. The 24-year-old blasted three homers during Monday’s game at Daikin Park and has homered four times in his last four contests.

Keith’s departure from Detroit’s lineup comes after an epic three-homer explosion during Monday’s series opener at Daikin Park. The 24-year-old corner infielder is presumably day-to-day for now. Rookie sensation Kevin McGonigle moves over to cover the hot corner with Zach McKinstry taking over at shortstop.

Keith’s three home runs give him four on the season now. He hit a two-run shot off Kai-Wei Teng in the second inning, another two-run shot off Jayden Murray in the seventh inning and a solo shot off Bryan Abreu in the ninth inning. Keith had zero home runs in the first 62 games of the season, but now has four home runs in the last four games. He joined Kerry Carpenter as the only Tigers to hit three home runs in a game in the last 10 years. Keith is hitting .267 with a .701 OPS as his bat starts to heat up. He’s best used in fantasy formats where his at-bats, which come almost exclusively against right-handed pitching, can be maximized.

Torkelson tagged Tanner Bibee for a 416-foot (105.9-mph EV) solo shot to center in the eighth inning that made it a one-run game at 3-2. That would be his lone hit in three at-bats on the evening. For the season, the 26-year-old slugger is now slashing .213/.312/.417 with the aforementioned 11 long balls and 28 RBI.