Brennan

Boesch

Boesch was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup due to general soreness. He played right field today.

Boesch’s third-inning blast off of King Felix Hernandez ended up being the Tigers’ only run of the night. It was also Boesch’s only hit, while he’s now turned in just one multi-knock effort in his past 11 games. The popular sleeper pick is hitting a brutal .213/.234/.333 through his first 76 plate appearances, and has drawn only one walk. That won’t do.

Boesch had been good for all of one run scored and one RBI through the first week of the season, even though the Tigers scored in double figures twice in the span. A lot more is expected from him in the second spot in the order. He managed to drive in the four runs today, but he’s still without an extra-base hit this season.

Boesch said it’s no big deal and he expects to be back in the lineup Monday. “It happened during a swing this morning,” Boesch said. “It’s only spring training, so I’m not trying to be hero.”

Boesch’s sixth inning bomb off of Colby Lewis was his only hit in five trips to the plate. He struck out three times. Primarily the Tigers’ No. 2 hitter thus far, Boesch is hitting just .212/.235/.303 through his first 71 plate appearances. There’s little reason to start him in mixed leagues until he proves he’s heating up.

Lineup protection is a concept not backed up by much statistical evidence, but whether or not Boesch performs better with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder behind him in the Tigers lineup, he’ll certainly be a better fantasy outfielder because of it. He could score a whole mess of runs this season.

Boesch reportedly put on a power display during pre-game batting practice, which left him feeling a little beat up. “He hit one up over the scoreboard [in batting practice] and just felt a little tweak,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Wednesday. “He’s fine. He’s just a little sore. I just didn’t want to take any chances.”

The long ball off of Jesse Crain in the eighth inning was Boesch’s first on the year. A very popular sleeper pick this season, Boesch has come on strong this week and now has six RBI on the season.

Boesch has batted second all year, but he’s in the midst of a slump that has dropped his batting line to .213/.234/.343. He’s also struck out 25 times while walking just twice this season. “One thing (Boesch) has to learn to do is to relax,” manager Jim Leyland said. Andy Dirks is batting second Sunday.

With four hits the last two days, Boesch is coming on now after a rough start to the spring. He projects as a very solid fantasy outfielder while hitting second in the powerful Tigers lineup.