Colt

Keith

Even though Detroit has hit .165/.246/.233 with 35 strikeouts through three games, there are no changes today. Colt Keith is again batting third and DHing, and Kerry Carpenter, who committed an error on a flyball last night, is in right field and leading off. Wenceel Pérez, who started the final 14 games of the regular season and then all three against the Guardians in the Wild Card series, remains on the bench.

After stunning the Mariners in Game 1 in Seattle on Saturday night, Tigers’ skipper A.J. Hinch didn’t feel the need to make any changes to his lineup behind Tarik Skubal in Game 2. Keith has been utilized as the designated hitter in each of the first two games instead of playing in the infield as they’re trying to be cautious with him while returning from the rib injury. Once again, here’s how they’ll lineup against Mariners’ right-hander Luis Castillo on Sunday: Gleyber Torres (2B), Kerry Carpenter (RF), Riley Greene (LF), Spencer Torkelson (1B), Colt Keith (DH), Dillon Dingler (C), Zach McKinstry (3B), Javier Baez (SS) and Parker Meadows (CF).

Keith had been shelved since mid-September due to right rib cage inflammation. His return bumps Wenceel Perez from the Tigers’ starting lineup. Here’s the full look at how the Tigers will line up against Mariners’ right-hander George Kirby on Saturday night in Seattle: Gleyber Torres (2B), Kerry Carpenter (RF), Riley Greene (LF), Spencer Torkelson (1B), Colt Keith (DH), Dillon Dingler (C), Zach McKinstry (3B), Javier Baez (SS) and Parker Meadows (CF).

Keith has been added to Detroit’s roster after missing the club’s Wild Card Series against Cleveland with right rib cage inflammation. The 24-year-old figures to get plenty of opportunities to face Seattle’s righty-heavy rotation. Reliever Brenan Hanifee is the only other new addition with Justyn-Henry Malloy and Paul Sewald being excluded.

How he comes out of that session will likely determine whether or not he’s ready to be included on the Tigers’ roster for their Division Series against the Mariners. Matt Vierling (oblique) will also take batting practice on Friday to see where he’s at. It sounds like the Tigers could soon be getting some reinforcements back to their offense if everything goes well on Friday.

Keith was placed on the injured list with rib cage inflammation on September 19. He is hoping to play in the AL DS, but the Tigers would need to get there first and he will need to clear his final hurdles for recovery.

The Tigers had thought it was a back injury that Keith was dealing with but an MRI exam revealed the rib inflammation. No word yet on how long he’ll be shelved for or if the injury will impact his availability for the postseason. Jace Jung was recalled from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move on Friday.

Keith was diagnosed with back tightness and recently underwent an MRI. He’ll likely miss all of Friday’s game with Zach McKinstry handling third base and hitting eighth.

The original thought was that he hurt his knee colliding with the wall on a foul ball, but he was also spotted grabbing at his back at the end of the second inning. He’s probably still day-to-day.

Keith banged his knee on the wall while chasing a foul popup, and though he stayed in initially, he didn’t come back out for the third. Trey Sweeney replaced him, with Zach McKinstry moving from short to third.