Wenceel

Perez

Even though Detroit has hit .165/.246/.233 with 35 strikeouts through three games, there are no changes today. Colt Keith is again batting third and DHing, and Kerry Carpenter, who committed an error on a flyball last night, is in right field and leading off. Wenceel Pérez, who started the final 14 games of the regular season and then all three against the Guardians in the Wild Card series, remains on the bench.

Keith had been shelved since mid-September due to right rib cage inflammation. His return bumps Wenceel Perez from the Tigers’ starting lineup. Here’s the full look at how the Tigers will line up against Mariners’ right-hander George Kirby on Saturday night in Seattle: 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).

It’s the same nine for Detroit, but most guys are moving up a spot with Meadows going from first to last. The exceptions are Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene; they remain fourth and fifth, respectively, with the slumping Wenceel Pérez jumping from sixth to third.

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.

Pérez delivered a sacrifice fly in the home half of the first inning that gave the Tigers a 3-2 advantage. He then led off the fourth inning with a double, advanced to third on a ground ball and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Zach McKinstry. The 25-year-old outfielder is enjoying a solid season offensively, slashing .272/.332/.484 with 12 long balls, 38 RBI and seven stolen bases in 310 plate appearances.

Tonight, at least, it seems that the Tigers will play with 14 position players and 12 pitchers. Meadows, who missed five weeks with a quad strain, will contend for starts in center field against righties. Wenceel Pérez and Javier Báez have been sharing time there, with Pérez also getting starts in right. Justyn-Henry Malloy could be sent down when the Tigers go back to 13 pitchers.

Pérez smacked a go-ahead RBI single off of Mets’ rookie right-hander Nolan McLean in the home half of the first inning, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead. He also singled in the seventh inning but was erased on a double play. Pérez then contributed to a three-run rally in the ninth inning with an RBI double and he scored on an RBI knock by Zach McKinstry. For the season, the switch-hitting outfielder is now slashing .266/.323/.479 with 12 homers, 37 RBI and seven stolen bases in his first 294 plate appearances.

Keith was originally at the hot corner and leading off Sunday’s series finale against the Royals. It’ll be Wenceel Pérez moving up to the leadoff spot with Jahmai Jones drawing into the lineup in his absence.

Báez will get a break even while swinging a solid stick as of late, including a 2-for-3 effort against Minnesota on Friday. He’ll take a seat with Weencel Perez getting the nod in center field for Detroit.

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.