Detroit Tigers DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal tossed a gem in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. Skubal threw seven shutout innings, allowing three hits while striking out seven and walking one to earn the win. The 27-year-old forced an impressive 19 swinging strikes in the start to improve his record to 9-3 on the season. Skubal is putting together an excellent season, posting a 2.32 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 112 strikeouts over 97 innings of work. He has developed into a frontline fantasy starting pitcher who should be in starting lineups whenever he takes the mound.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (spine) is still rehabbing and doing baseball activity at the club's spring training facility in Tampa. Baez isn't expected to be with the Tigers on their upcoming three-city road trip, and manager AJ Hinch said on Tuesday that he's facing an "extensive" minor-league rehab assignment once he's cleared for competition. Baez is recovering from lumbar spine inflammation and is likely to remain sidelined through the mid-July All-Star break. Considering the 31-year-old former All-Star was slashing a pathetic .183/.209/.247 with one home run, 25 RBI, 15 runs scored, and six stolen bases through 186 at-bats as Detroit's primary shortstop this year, he can be left on waiver wires in the majority of fantasy leagues.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (spine) took swings off a batting tee on Monday and completed throwing/running drills on the field ahead of Tuesday's game against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. Working his way back from a lumbar spine stress fracture, Carpenter has re-engaged himself in baseball activities and will accompany the team on their upcoming road trip to continue his workouts. Although he's unlikely to return to the Tigers before the mid-July All-Star break and will likely need minor-league rehab assignment before he's activated from the injured list, the 26-year-old righty-mashing right fielder was slashing .283/.342/.572 with eight home runs, 10 doubles, 29 RBI, and 21 runs scored in 163 plate appearances before going down and makes for a fine stash in all fantasy leagues.

Detroit Tigers rookie second baseman Colt Keith and infielder Zach McKinstry are both getting the day off on Tuesday versus the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. Keith will take a seat after starting each of the team's last 10 games. Andy Ibanez is filling in at the keystone and is hitting second, while Ryan Kreidler will play shortstop and bat ninth for the Tigers against Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez. Neither Ibanez nor Kreidler have ever faced Suarez in their careers. Keith hasn't really stood out offensively this year, batting .239 (55-for-230) with only four home runs, 23 RBI and four stolen bases, but he's turned things on of late. The 22-year-old former fifth-round selection in 2020 has gone 15-for-43 (.349) with two homers, three doubles, four RBI and a stolen base in his last 11 games played. Ibanez is in a nice lineup spot and has hit .276 this year, but it's a very tough matchup.

Detroit Tigers catching prospect Dillon Dingler hit two homers and drove in seven runs for Triple-A Toledo on Sunday to continue his stellar season. Dingler, the Tigers' No. 12 prospect, is hitting .287 with 10 homers and 35 RBI for the Mud Hens this season. Known as an excellent defensive catcher, the 25-year-old has turned heads with his offensive production. Injuries have stalled his development over the past few years, but Dingler has the potential to be a fantasy contributor at the catcher position when the Tigers choose to call him up. He could get the call at any time now and would be a popular waiver-wire addition, especially in two catcher leagues.