Carson

Kelly

Kelly started the scoring with an RBI single in the second inning and gave the Rangers the lead again breaking a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning with an RBI double. He has hits in his last six games and is 9-for-23 (.391) with a double, a home run and six RBI in that span. Kelly is hitting .256 with a .741 OPS and 35 RBI on the season.

It’s warranted, considering that Kelly is hitting .333/.364/.524 in seven games since coming over from Detroit. He has a .734 OPS for the season, compared to .619 for Heim.

Kelly and the Rangers caught fire late and pushed the Yankees to the brink in a game where they trailed by five runs after the seventh inning. He’s not the most exciting name, but Kelly has started in five of 10 games since being acquired by the Rangers and that timeshare alone makes him attractive in two-catcher leagues.

The Rangers had been in the market for an upgrade to their second catcher spot, and Kelly should be able to provide just that. The 30-year-old grades out well in defensive metrics and in pitch framing and has slashed a respectable .242/.327/.393 with seven long balls and 29 RBI in 202 plate appearances with the Tigers this season. He can continue to be ignored for fantasy purposes though.

The 30-year-old backstop is having a solid season for the Tigers — slashing .242/.327/.393 with seven homers and 29 RBI in 202 plate appearances — and will be a free agent at the end of the 2024 season. Kelly will function as the Rangers’ primary backup to Jonah Heim behind the plate. The Tigers were looking to free up a spot on their active roster for Dillon Dingler who has been languishing on Triple-A, so they’ll get an added benefit from the deal as well. No word yet on the return package that the Tigers will receive in the deal.

Kelly broke up a scoreless tie when he crushed a 387-foot (103.5 mph EV) grand slam off of David Festa in the third inning. That would be his only hit in four at-bats on the night, but was all the offense that Keider Montero and company would require in this one. On the season, the 29-year-old backstop is now hitting .245/.321/.406 with six homers and 25 RBI. He’s looking increasingly likely to be dealt in advance of the trade deadline at the end of the month.

Keith will take a seat with Andy Ibanez getting the start at second base in the 22-year-old’s place. Carson Kelly is also out with Ranger Suarez on the mound for the Phillies, with Jake Rogers instead getting the nod behind the plate.

Justyn-Henry Malloy had set the stage with a double into the gap in left-center, then Kelly followed with a 412-foot (103.9 mph EV) blast to left field that gave the Tigers an early 2-0 lead that they would never relinquish. That was the last good swing that the Tigers would have against Erick Fedde and company in the ballgame, but proved to be just enough. Kelly finished the night 1-for-3 and is now slashing .238/.324/.373 with four homers and seven RBI on the year.

Kelly smacked a go-ahead RBI single off of Freddy Peralta in the second inning then came around to score on an RBI knock by Mark Canha. That would be the last of the Tigers’ scoring in the ballgame. With his two-hit effort, the 29-year-old backstop is now slashing .236/.317/.336 with two homers and 14 RBI on the season.

Kelly is feeling better and could potentially get into Saturday’s game against the Royals after being scratched from Friday’s series opener due to rib soreness. It’ll be Jake Rogers behind the dish once again to open the contest.