Detroit Tigers DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Detroit Tigers reliever Tyler Holton needed only 11 pitches to record his fifth save in Monday's 6-3 win at the Chicago White Sox. Holton did not record a strikeout while throwing eight strikes in a performance that marked his first save since August 6. He is 5-1 with a 2.38 ERA and 0.81 WHIP in 52 appearances, striking out 59 and walking 13 in 75 2/3 innings. Holton has 11 holds, making him a solid option in leagues that use holds as a category. Jason Foley gets the bulk of the save opportunities but Holton's overall ability to record outs is attractive in AL-only leagues and deeper leagues.

Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson had three hits in his team's 6-3 win against the Chicago White Sox on Monday. Torkelson officially went 3-for-5 with a double, a homer, and three RBI. His three-run home run was critical, as it came in the seventh inning and gave the Tigers the lead late. The former first overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft has had an underwhelming season at the plate, slashing .220/.286/.376 with only six homers in 63 games (245 at-bats). Torkelson is starting to heat up at the plate, hitting two home runs and logging six RBI over his last five games. Fantasy managers can take a chance on Torkelson (rostered in 40% in Yahoo leagues) due to his power upside.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (hip), who was moved to the 60-day injured list on Monday, will have season-ending arthroscopic right-hip surgery next week. Another hugely disappointing season comes to an end early for Baez. The 31-year-old Puerto Rican infielder has somehow gotten worse in each year in Detroit and will finish the 2024 campaign with a .184/.221/.294 slash line with a career-worst .516 OPS, six home runs, 37 RBI, eight steals and 25 runs scored in 289 plate appearances over 80 games played. Given how bad he's been in his tenure with Detroit, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Tigers move in another direction heading into 2025. With Baez now out for the rest of this year, rookie Trey Sweeney should see most of the starts at the 6, although Ryan Kreidler could also mix in for the Tigers.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene will head to the bench for Monday's contest against the division-rival Chicago White Sox and right-hander Davis Martin at Guaranteed Rate Field. It appears to be just a normal day of rest for Greene, who has gone 6-for-25 (.240) with a homer, two doubles, four RBI and eight runs scored in six games played since returning from the injured list on Aug. 18. The 23-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder was a first-time All-Star this year and is currently slashing .263/.355/.482 with an .837 OPS, 18 home runs, 55 RBI and 65 runs scored in 107 games played in his third year in the Show. Greene has been useful for outfield depth in most mixed leagues as a lineup regular for Detroit. Zach McKinstry is starting in left field on Monday and will hit seventh against Martin in the series finale. McKinstry is a low-upside, deep DFS sleeper.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (undisclosed) is undergoing some tests on Friday for an undisclosed injury and could need to be placed on the 10-day injured list, depending on the results of his tests. Infielder Ryan Kreidler will be with the Tigers on Friday night in Chicago for the series against the Cubs just in case the Tigers eventually put Baez on the IL. The 31-year-old Baez continues to be a source of major disappointment for the Tigers and isn't even on the fantasy radar in mixed leagues at this point. The Puerto Rican infielder has hit rock bottom in 2024, slashing .184/.221/.294 with a .516 OPS, six home runs, 37 RBI, eight steals and 69 strikeouts in 289 plate appearances over 80 games played. Rookie infielder Trey Sweeney had already been sharing playing time with Baez at the 6, so if Baez hits the shelf, he'll see even more playing time in the near future.