Max

Clark

It’s likely just a rest day for he and Max Clark versus a lefty. Both had started 14 straight games since last sitting on Sept. 5. The Tigers have Hao-Yu Lee at third and Javier Báez in center tonight.

The 21-year-old top prospect got the Tigers on the board and evened the score at a run apiece as he swatted a 355-foot solo shot off of Rockies starter Mason Adams in the fifth inning. He was then plunked with two outs in the sixth inning and proceeded to swipe second base, take third on a wild pitch and score on a wild pitch. He has impressed in his limited big league action so far, slashing .258/.336/.430 with three homers, 17 RBI and four stolen bases in his first 145 plate appearances.

Clark has been a fixture in the Tigers’ lineup in center field since arriving from Triple-A Toledo, but he’ll get a breather in this one after playing in both halves of Friday’s doubleheader and with tough left-hander Parker Messick toeing the slab for the Guardians. The 21-year-old has impressed in his first exposure to big league pitching, slashing .265/.331/.434 with a pair of homers, 16 RBI and two stolen bases in his first 126 plate appearances. Zach McKinstry will start in his place in center field and bat eighth for the Tigers.

Clark also was credited with a big sliding catch in left field in the seventh. It actually looked like he trapped the ball, but it was declared an out on the field and the call stood on replay. Clark is up to .275/.342/.450 with 16 RBI through 31 big-league games. Except for a drop in his walk rate, that’s hardly much different than his .276/.368/.434 line from Triple-A.

Clark was everywhere in this game. His first two doubles helped to set up rallies in the early innings and his third was huge in the moment, giving his Tigers the lead in the 11th before their bullpen made them win it in the 12th. Nevertheless, this one game brought his batting average up from .238 to .257 and his OPS from .697 to .766 as he continues to find his footing in the big leagues.

Clark took a 99-mph fastball on the outer-third from Tarik Skubal and slapped it 105-mph the other way for the triple. It’s still very early, but he’s hit an impressive .286/.375/.571 in 32 plate appearances in lefty-lefty matchups. Unfortunately, he’s at just .226/.273/.339 in 67 plate appearances against righties.

After a torrid start to his MLB career in two games in Sacramento, Clark has found the going a little tough. In August, he’s gone 18-for-84 (.214) with two home runs, nine runs scored, 11 RBI, and a 19/5 K/BB ratio. He also has just one stolen base. The future is still bright for Clark, but he doesn’t have tons of fantasy value right now while hitting at the bottom of the lineup for a mediocre offense.

Clark’s home run was his second. He hit a two-run shot off Ian Seymour in the fifth inning. Clark was 9-for-49 (.184) with no home runs and four RBI over his last 14 games entering play Tuesday. He’s hitting .247 with a .704 OPS and 12 RBI in the first 23 games of his career.

Clark had started 13 straight games, including the last three against southpaws. The Tigers, though, are sitting him versus Anthony Kay today, which gives Corey Julks a start in the outfield.

Clark got off to a tremendous start to his MLB career during his first two games in Sacramento. In the seven games since, he has gone 6-for-28 (.214) with four RBI, one extra-base hit, and an 11/3 K/BB ratio. He also has yet to attempt a stolen base in the majors despite being a stolen base threat in the minor leagues. Overall, it’s been a solid enough early stretch for Clark, but the lack of stolen bases and inconsistent power production may keep his ceiling in check from a redraft fantasy perspective.