Zach

McKinstry

McKinstry played a nice role on the Tigers’ surprise playoff squad in 2024, slashing .215/.277/.337 with four homers, 23 RBI and 16 stolen bases while appearing in 10 or more games at five different positions. Barring any major changes to their roster construction, expect the 29-year-old utilityman to function in a similar capacity once again for the 2025 campaign.

McKinstry’s walk in the second inning loaded the bases with no outs, but the Tigers could only score one run. McKinstry led off the fifth inning with a home run to left field that tied the game and chased Guardians’ starter Tanner Bibee. McKinstry has started two games in the series and appeared in another as a defensive replacement.

McKinstry had been on the bench for the last two games with Matt Vierling playing third base. On Thursday. Vierling will move to right field and Wenceel Perez will move to the bench. The rest of the lineup will stay the same against Tanner Bibee.

Perez has not been starting against right-handers in the postseason, but the 24-year-old will get the nod against Alex Cobb for the pivotal Game 3 contest. Zach McKinstry begins the contest on the bench. The full lineup for Wednesday’s contest: CF Parker Meadows, DH Kerry Carpenter, 3B Matt Vierling, LF Riley Greene, RF Perez, 2B Colt Keith, 1B Spencer Torkelson, SS Trey Sweeney and C Jake Rogers.

The original ruling was that Zach McKinstry committed an error on a grounder from Ramírez in the first inning, but MLB is now ruling it a two-bagger for the 32-year-old and adds and RBI. It doesn’t change the outcome of the game, obviously, but it does give a double to the third baseman and takes an error away from McKinstry.

The Tigers are using the same lineup they did Wednesday against the Astros. That means McKinstry at third, even though Matt Vierling was getting most of the playing time there at the end of the regular season. Vierling is again starting in right over Wenceel Pérez. The lineup: CF Parker Meadows, DH Kerry Carpenter, RF Vierling, LF Riley Greene, 2B Colt Keith, 1B Spencer Torkelson, 3B McKinstry, SS Trey Sweeney, C Jake Rogers.

The Astros put out their lefty-killer lineup Tuesday, but with right-hander Hunter Brown on the bump, Carpenter will hit near the top of the lineup with Justyn-Henry Malloy. Zach McKinstry is in the lineup in place of Wenceel Perez, and Colt Keith takes over second for Andy Ibanez. The full lineup for the Tigers as they look to clinch a spot in the ALDS against the Guardians: Parker Meadows CF, Carpenter DH, Matt Vierling RF, Riley Greene LF, Keith 2B, Spencer Torkelson 1B, McKinstry 3B, Trey Sweeney SS and Jake Rogers behind the plate.

McKinstry singled twice for the other two hits. The 29-year-old has provided “real-life” value with his versatility, but he’s not fantasy relevant with a slash of .220/.287/.352.

Jung has started against all opposing right-handers since his promotion from Triple-A Toledo, but he’ll take a seat against White Sox’ southpaw Ky Bush on Saturday. Zach McKinstry will start in his place at the hot corner and will bat eighth for the Tigers.

No word yet on the reason for the move. It’ll be Zach McKinstry taking over at shortstop on Thursday evening out in Seattle.