Wenceel Pérez's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Detroit Tigers second baseman Wenceel Perez will start on the bench for Game 4 of the American League Division Series on Thursday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park. In two of the three games of the ALDS to this point, Perez has gone 1-for-5 at the plate. With Perez out on Thursday, Matt Vierling will start in right field and will bat third, with Zach McKinstry playing third base and batting seventh against Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee. Both Vierling and McKinstry have decent history against Bibee. Vierling has gone 3-for-11 (.273) against him with two home runs, four RBI and one strikeout, while McKinstry has gone 5-for-15 (.333) with two doubles, two RBI and a walk against Bibee. Vierling will be the more attractive DFS play near the top of the order. So far in the postseason this fall, he has just four hits in 18 at-bats with a double, two RBI and seven strikeouts.

Detroit Tigers rookie second baseman Wenceel Perez is back in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday at Comerica Park against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Alex Cobb, playing right field and batting fifth. Zach McKinstry will start on the bench in this one. Perez supplied two hits and a run scored in the Game 1 loss to Cleveland on Saturday and didn't get the start in the Game 2 win on Monday. The 24-year-old Dominican switch-hitter hit .242/.300/.383 with a below-average .683 OPS, nine home runs, 37 RBI and nine stolen bases in his first 112 major-league games in 2024. Perez did not face Cobb at all this year but was much more productive against right-handers as a lefty hitter this year, batting .251 (76-for-303) with eight of his nine home runs against them. He'll be a low-upside DFS sleeper for Wednesday's full slate of playoff action.

Detroit Tigers infielder Wenceel Perez will retreat to the bench for Game 2 of the wild-card series on Wednesday against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The left-handed-hitting Colt Keith will man the keystone and will bat fifth for the Tigers versus Astros right-hander Hunter Brown. Perez contributed two hits and scored a run in the Game 1 upset win over the Astros to put them on the brink of elimination. Matt Vierling is also starting in right field, with Zach McKinstry getting the nod at the hot corner. In his first big-league season in 2023, Keith held his own with a .260 average (134-for-516) with 13 home runs, 15 doubles, four triples, 61 RBI, seven stolen bases and 54 runs scored in 148 games played. He actually hit over .300 against lefties in 82 at-bats, but 12 of his 13 home runs on the season came against right-handers.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Prez (oblique) might be sidelined for the rest of his rookie season after sustaining a left-oblique strain during Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Although the Tigers haven't officially ruled him out, manager A.J. Hinch was non-committal about Prez returning before the season finale on Sept. 29. Prez, a switch-hitter, was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday due to the oblique strain, but he is expected to be out for much longer. In 97 games (347 at-bats) this season, he is slashing .242/.298/.386 with nine homers and 32 RBI. In his place, the Tigers have called up outfielder Akil Baddoo from Triple-A Toledo.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Perez will head to the 10-day IL with an oblique strain. Veteran outfielder Akil Baddoo will take his place on the roster. Perez left the game Friday night due to soreness in his abdominal area. The severity of the injury is unknown, but a serious oblique strain could end Perez's season. The rookie has been a pleasant surprise, hitting .242 with nine home runs, 32 RBI, nine stolen bases and 49 runs scored in 378 plate appearances.