Detroit Tigers DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Detroit Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows expressed that he adjusted his swing while at Triple-A Toledo to help him hit fastballs. During the first two months of the 2024 campaign, the 24-year-old outfielder struggled at the major league level with a poor .100/.232/.229 slash line and he hit just one double, one triple, two long balls, and three RBI. He held an 11:31 BB:K ratio. After being demoted to Triple-A in May, the former second-round selection took significant steps forward in his development with a much-improved .298/.394/.511 line and eight home runs in 47 games. Meadows did not waste any time in his first game back in the big leagues on Friday, July 5, where he went 1-for-5 with a solo shot. If he continues this success, Meadows could be worth adding to standard leagues due to his potential to be a five-category contributor.

Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith had the first two-homer game of his career in Friday's narrow win over the hosting Cincinnati Reds. After launching a towering homer off Reds right-hander Carson Spiers to right-center field, extending the Tigers' lead to 2-0 in the third inning, Keith left the yard again in the fifth frame to give Detroit a 4-0 lead. It still hasn't been a great rookie season overall from the 22-year-old lefty-hitting infielder, who's slashing .240/.285/.361 with seven big flies, nine doubles, 28 RBI, and four stolen bases across 281 plate appearances in 2024. With that said, Keith is picking up some steam with three consecutive multi-hit efforts.

The Detroit Tigers are calling up rookie outfielder Parker Meadows from Triple-A Toledo before Friday's series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, according to multiple sources. Meadows, who is an elite defensive center fielder, hasn't played in the big leagues since May 6. He made the Opening Day roster but hit just .096 with two home runs, a .443 OPS and a 37.7% strikeout rate in 32 games for Detroit before being optioned. The 24-year-old hit .298 with eight homers, a .905 OPS and a 19% strikeout rate in 47 games for the Mud Hens on the farm, also stealing 19 bases in 24 attempts. In addition to being an elite defender, Meadows has elite speed, making him worth a waiver-wire pickup in deep-mixed fantasy leagues. At worst, he should see playing time in the strong side of a platoon against right-handed pitching in Detroit.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Kenta Maeda got crushed against his former team, the Minnesota Twins, on Thursday. Maeda only lasted 3 2/3 innings and allowed nine hits, nine runs, three walks and struck out three during his outing. The veteran came over from the Twins on a two-year contract but has struggled mightily in his short time with the Tigers. On the season, Maeda is 2-5 with a 6.71 ERA in 15 starts and he hasn't shown any signs of improving as the season has gone on. Maeda should remain on the waiver wire for the foreseeable future with another tough matchup versus the Cleveland Guardians coming next Wednesday.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Keider Montero threw 6 1/3 innings versus the Twins and allowed six hits, two runs, one walk and struck out four to earn his first big-league victory on Wednesday. It was his best performance as a big leaguer by a landslide, in his third appearance as he replaced starting pitcher Casey Mize (hamstring) in the rotation. Montero is the Tigers seventh ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline and is expected to remain in the rotation with Mize on the shelf. Despite his strong performance on Wednesday, Montero figures to be more of a streamer in favorable matchups. Montero is projected to face the Cleveland Guardians his next time out and can be avoided in that contest.