Dillon

Dingler

Those two are joined by Steven Kwan in the outfield. Other AL winners include pitcher Max Fried, catcher Dillon Dingler, first baseman Ty France, second baseman Marcus Semien, third baseman Maikel Garcia, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and utilityman Mauricio Dubón. Semien getting the nod over Andrés Giménez seems like the biggest upset, though Giménez, who won the previous three years, did miss a bunch of time. Dingler over Alejandro Kirk also rates as a modest surprise.

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).

In what was a tense 1-1 battle with two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Dingler put the Tigers on top to stay by crushing a 1-1 changeup from Joey Cantillo for a 401-foot solo shot. He also worked a walk in the seventh inning, finishing the afternoon 1-for-3. Next up for the Tigers will be a date with the Mariners in Seattle on Saturday.

Dingler broke a string of 13 consecutive hitters retired by Connelly Early with a one-out single off the Green Monster in the fifth inning. He then scored the Tigers’ first run on a two-run single off the bat of Jahmai Jones. Dingler also worked a walk in the ninth inning but the Tigers were unable to cash him in. The 27-year-old backstop has had a solid season at the plate, slashing .278/.327/.425 with 13 homers and 57 RBI.

Dingler got the Tigers on the board and evened the score at 1-1 as he dumped an RBI single into right field after an 11-pitch battle with Cam Schlittler in the second inning. Dingler then clubbed a 378-foot (109.0 mph EV) solo shot off of Ryan Yarbrough in the seventh inning that made it a 9-2 ballgame. With his two-hit attack, the 26-year-old backstop is now slashing .282/.331/.438 with 13 long balls and 55 RBI on the season.

Dingler could have had an even bigger game in his second career start at DH; his 413-foot triple in the first would have been a homer in 17 ballparks and his 394-foot flyout in the fifth would have left 13. Dingler, who was behind Jake Rogers on the depth chart initially this season, is batting .274/.321/.432 and has probably been the AL’s second or third best catcher behind Cal Raleigh and maybe Alejandro Kirk.

It’s Dingler’s second career game at DH after he was penciled in there for the first time on Aug. 9. The Tigers are finding his bat too valuable to take out of the lineup, especially against lefties, and this will be his 16th start in the team’s last 19 games.

Dingler delivered a clutch hit in the opening inning as he blooped a two-out, two-run single into right field that extended the Tigers’ early lead to 3-0. He then scored on an RBI double off the bat of Javier Baez. Dingler also added an RBI double off the wall in left field in the third inning that made it a 6-0 ballgame. With his two-hit attack, Dingler is now slashing a healthy .272/.318/.428 with 11 homers and 49 RBI on the season.

Dingler victimized White Sox’ left-hander Tyler Gilbert for a 388-foot (103.9 mph EV) two-run blast in the seventh inning that pulled the Tigers to within three runs at 6-3. He also reached on catcher’s interference in the ninth and rode home on Colt Keith’s three-run shot. On the season, the 26-year-old backstop is now hitting .272/.319/.429 with 11 long balls and 46 RBI.

Dingler opened the scoring in the ballgame with a two-out RBI single off of Elvis Peguero in the second inning. He finished the day 1-for-2 officially and is now hitting .271/.316/.419 with 10 homers and 44 RBI on the season.