Kerry

Carpenter

Kerry Bonds is real. Carpenter gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead on a homer off lefty Gabe Speier in the sixth inning, but that would be the last time the Tigers would score. Carpenter did his part, however, singling three times and drawing a pair of walks to end the series with a slash of .281/.410/.500 with two homers and six RBI. He’ll be a solid — if flawed — fantasy option again in 2026.

Carpenter will hit leadoff for a third-straight game against George Kirby and the Seattle bullpen. Gleyber Torres will hit second with Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson following. The full lineup for Friday’s winner-take-all: Carpenter RF, Torres 2B, Greene LF, Torkelson 1B, Colt Keith DH, Zach McKinstry 3B, Dillon Dingler C, Parker Meadows CF and Javier Báez SS.

It’s the same starting nine for Detroit as the first two games of the series, but the order is a little shuffled with the left-handed hitter ascending to the top. The full lineup: RF Carpenter, 2B Gleyber Torres, DH Colt Keith, LF Riley Greene, 1B Spencer Torkelson, 3B Zach McKinstry, C Dillon Dingler, CF Parker Meadows, SS Javier Báez.

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).

Carpenter victimized Mariners’ right-hander George Kirby for a 409-foot (112.5 mph EV) two-run shot with two outs in the fifth inning that gave the Tigers a 2-1 advantage. It’s the fifth career hit for Carpenter off of Kirby — all of them being home runs. The Tigers will now have an opportunity to take a commanding 2-0 series lead on Sunday with ace left-hander Tarik Skubal on the mound.

Carpenter opened the scoring in the third inning with an RBI double over first base off of left-hander Tim Herrin to plate Parker Meadows in the third inning. He also drew three walks in the contest — one of them intentional. The Mariners’ rotation features nothing but right-handers, so expect to see a full dose of Carpenter in the upcoming Division Series.

It’s the second straight game that the 28-year-old slugger finds himself on the bench with an opposing left-hander on the mound. Look for him to get an at-bat in a key spot against a right-handed reliever at some point on Friday evening. Jahmai Jones will start in his place as the designated hitter and bat leadoff for the Tigers against Kyle Harrison and the Red Sox on Friday night at Fenway Park.

Jahmai Jones, Andy Ibáñez and Javier Báez are starting. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch seems to be putting no stock in the fact that lefties have hit Cantillo far better than righties (.769 OPS vs. .610) in his 80 major league innings this season. If Carpenter is sitting tonight, he’ll probably be on the bench again tomorrow against Logan Allen, who has particularly strong platoon splits against left-handers (.625 OPS for lefties, .784 OPS for righties).

Carpenter put the Tigers on the board with a two-run blast off Jansen Junk in the third inning. He also knocked a base hit in the fifth. The 28-year-old slugger is up to 25 homers, 65 runs scored, and 61 RBI while hitting .258/.299/.516 across 429 plate appearances.

It’s a return to the lineup for McKinstry after he missed three games in a row with upper-back stiffness. The 30-year-old’s return also sees Weencel Perez get the night off and Kerry Carpenter get a rare-ish start in right field.