Trey

Sweeney

The move clears a spot on Detroit’s 40-man roster for pitcher Grant Holman. Sweeney is on the shelf with a shoulder strain and won’t be eligible to return until at least late May. He’s obviously been surpassed by Kevin McGonigle in the pecking order up the middle.

Sweeney has begun swinging a bat, but his injury has opened the door for Kevin McGonigle to make the Opening Day roster. That may prove to be too big an obstacle for Sweeney to overcome when he’s recovered from his shoulder injury. However, McGonigle can play multiple positions on the infield, which could create an avenue for Sweeney eventually.

Sweeney has been shut down all spring training with a right shoulder strain. That has opened up an opportunity for Kevin McGonigle to push for the starting shortstop job. If he takes that, it’s unlikely that Sweeney would get it back.

No word yet on the severity of the issue or on how much time the 25-year-old infielder may miss. Sweeney had already been seemingly phased out of the mix to open the season as the Tigers’ starting shortstop, so missing time during Grapefruit League play isn’t likely to hurt him in that regard.

There are no real surprises here. The Tigers are using the same lineup on Tuesday that they used against most right-handed pitching in the final weeks of the season. Javier Baez will play shortstop and bat ninth, which means Trey Sweeney will be on the bench. Andy Ibanez figures to come in for McKinstry if the Guardians bring in a left-handed reliever.

Báez was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup with stiffness in his neck, and the 32-year-old will miss at least one more game with the ailment. Trey Sweeney gets another start at shortstop and will hit ninth in Báez’s absence.

It’s a tough break for Detroit to lose Báez at the outset of a critical three-game series against the Guardians which is likely to determine the winner of the AL Central division crown. The 32-year-old is presumably day-to-day for now. It’ll be Trey Sweeney taking over at shortstop.

There should be a clearer idea of McKinstry’s status once he undergoes further evaluation and treatment. The big concern here is that back issues can be tricky matters and tend to linger beyond initial expectations. The uber-versatile 30-year-old has put together the best season of his career with 11 homers and 19 steals in 130 contests. It’ll be Trey Sweeney taking over at shortstop on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.

Báez will get the middle game of the series against Houston off with Trey Sweeney getting a start at shortstop and hitting ninth.

Sweeney has now started three of the four games since he was recalled from Triple-A Toledo on Sunday. With Matt Vierling on the injured list, it seems that the Tigers are going to play Wenceel Perez in right field and shift Javier Baez to center field to allow Sweeney to play regularly at shortstop. The 25-year-old is hitting .208/.277/.301 in 88 games for the Tigers this year and remains off the fantasy radar.