DETROIT – The addition of free agent third baseman Gio Urshela will have a major impact on the starting lineup for the Detroit Tigers.
Two weeks ago, I took a stab at predicting what the lineup will look like for the Tigers on Opening Day. Obviously, the Urshela signing completely changes that equation -- not just for Opening Day, but also for how much flexibility it gives A.J. Hinch on a game-by-game basis.
Assuming Urshela was signed to handle the primary duties at third base, Matt Vierling is now back in the platoon mix at outfield. Three of the four primary outfielders for Detroit are left-handed -- Riley Greene, Parker Meadows, and Kerry Carpenter. If Carpenter or Meadows struggle to hit left-handed pitching, Hinch can now insert Vierling into the lineup alongside fellow right-handed corner outfielder Mark Canha.
With Vierling joining Zach McKinstry and Andy Ibanez in more of a utility role, it’s going to be much more difficult for the likes of Justyn-Henry Malloy, Andre Lipcius, Ryan Kreidler, and especially Akil Baddoo to make the Opening Day roster.
I’m going to offer my lineup predictions below, but if you want to read a much more in-depth breakdown of each player and why I put them in certain spots, click here. Those player evaluations are still relevant, even though the lineup positions have changed.
If you want to read more about why I believe Urshela is a good fit for the Tigers, click here.
OK, now let’s get to the lineups.
Lineup vs. right-handed pitchers
Urshela doesn’t have major career splits, but he was much better against left-handers during an injury-shortened 2023 season. His numbers are typically just as good against same-handed pitchers, though.
That being said, Hinch loves to play matchups, and I expect he’ll take some opportunities early in the season to get McKinstry into the lineup at third.
So I think the most common lineup against righties will look something like this:
- Mark Canha, LF
- Riley Greene, RF
- Spencer Torkelson, 1B
- Kerry Carpenter, DH
- Colt Keith, 2B
- Javier Baez, SS
- Gio Urshela or Zach McKinstry, 3B
- Parker Meadows, CF
- Jake Rogers, C
I’m pretty confident in this top three. Those are everyday players who shouldn’t be moved drastically throughout the lineup based on the opposing starter.
The other slots could vary quite a bit more. If Keith doesn’t get off to a slow start, he’s a middle-of-the-order bat. Meadows could move up as far as sixth if he’s hitting righties well early in the season.
Lineup vs. left-handed pitchers
If Hinch wants to stack his lineup with righties against left-handed starters, this Urshela move gives him the ability to do just that.
I still think Keith and Meadows have a chance to play against most lefties because they’ve shown an ability to do so throughout most of their minor-league careers. But Hinch loves to tinker with his lineup, especially to get bench guys into games.
- Mark Canha, LF
- Riley Greene, RF
- Spencer Torkelson, 1B
- Matt Vierling, CF
- Javier Baez, SS
- Gio Urshela, 3B
- Colt Keith, DH
- Andy Ibanez, 2B
- Jake Rogers, C
If Meadows is in the lineup against a lefty, I think he bats ninth, with Rogers moving up to No. 8. Vierling would shift to left field and Canha would become the designated hitter. Either Keith or Ibanez would play second base and bat seventh, with the other on the bench.
Final thoughts
Early season performance from the young left-handed hitters is going to determine how much Hinch adjusts his lineups.
If Carpenter, Keith, and Meadows are all staying afloat against lefties, they won’t get an auto bench in favor of Ibanez and Vierling every time a southpaw comes up on the schedule.
But we’ve seen three seasons of Hinch in Detroit, so we know by now that everyone on the roster is going to play. The “normal lineup” might only get used a few times per week.
I like the Urshela signing because there’s absolutely no risk. The Tigers have one of the lower payrolls in MLB, so taking a $1.5 million flyer on a steady veteran at a position of need is a no-brainer.
But there are definitely a lot of solid everyday players who need at-bats, and Hinch might get creative to make sure everyone gets their reps.
