Spencer

Torkelson

Torkelson added a pair of valuable insurance runs with a 389-foot (100.3-mph EV) two-run shot off of Alex Hoppe in the seventh inning that increased the Tigers’ lead to 7-2. That would be his only hit in four at-bats on the night. For the season, the 26-year-old slugger is now slashing .214/.316/.410 with nine homers and 25 RBI on the season.

Torkelson went deep off of José Soriano in the second inning to push the Tigers’ lead to 2-0. It was the eighth homer of the season for Torkelson, who also doubled twice in his powerful display at the dish. It was a much-needed big night for Torkelson, who entered the day with a .198 average and a .373 slugging percentage. He’s now hit safely in five of his last six games, so hopefully this is a sign of good things to come for him at the plate.

Torkelson will undoubtedly be in there for the nightcap against left-hander Trevor Rogers and will likely make an appearance off of the bench in the first game. Dillon Dingler will function as the team’s designated hitter while Colt Keith covers first base and bats sixth against Brandon Young and the O’s.

It’s Torkelson’s first time out of the lineup in exactly a month. The Tigers have Dillon Dingler at DH today, which is probably playing a role in Torkelson’s absence. Colt Keith is starting at first.

Torkelson’s homer off Parker Messick accounted for two-thirds of the Tigers’ runs tonight. It was his first homer against a lefty in 36 at-bats this season. He’s batting .194 against both lefties and righties, though he does have a far better OBP (.370 to .289) with the platoon advantage.

The Tigers entered the home half of the ninth embattled in a 2-2 tie. Matt Vierling started the rally with a one out single and swiped second base, then after Zach McKinstry was walked intentionally, Torkelson smacked a 2-2 fastball from Jeff Hoffman into right field for the game-winning hit. He finished the night 1-for-3 and is now hitting .200/.324/.379 with six homers and 17 RBI on the season.

Torkelson struck out in his other three at-bats tonight, but he had the biggest blow in the game after Jack Leiter faced the minimum through four innings. Riley Greene walked to start the fifth and then Torkelson sent a slider 388 feet to left-center. It’s Torkelson’s sixth homer of the year. The other five were all hit in consecutive games from Apr. 22-26.

Torkelson entered play on Wednesday with zero home runs on the season. He now has five after crushing a 421-foot (107.3 mph EV) solo shot off of Sam Moll in the seventh inning on Sunday. He also smacked a pair of doubles in this one, finishing the afternoon 3-for-4 plus a walk. He’s now hitting .236/.364/.472 with five long balls and 12 RBI on the season. He’s worth a look in deeper mixed leagues if any fantasy managers got frustrated and dropped him last week.

Torkelson got off the schneid when he hit his first home run of the season in Wednesday’s victory over the Brewers. He followed that up by crushing his first career walk-off home run to sink the Brewers on Thursday afternoon. Then on Friday night, he clobbered a solo shot off of Tony Santillan in the eighth inning, igniting a three-run rally. He finished the night 2-for-3 with a walk and a pair of runs scored and is now hitting .210/.347/.370 with three homers and 10 RBI on the season. A notoriously streaky hitter, Torkelson should be started in all fantasy leagues at the moment until he starts to show signs of cooling off.

Torkelson got it out to left field past the bullpen in Comerica, salvaging what to that point had been an 0-for-3 day. The first baseman was hitting seventh and has upped his line to a putrid .192/.330/.308 with his second homer of the season. This isn’t the first slow start for Torkelson -- he’s a career .212/.313/.360 hitter in April/March games. He’s only a fringe fantasy option at the moment, especially hitting as low as he is in the lineup. Perhaps this big hit will spark him.