McKinstry went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and two steals in Sunday's 6-5 win over the White Sox.
McKinstry has reached safely in 15 of his past 16 starts, including back-to-back multi-hit games. Since May 8, he's slashing .358/.500/.509 with five RBI, six stolen bases and 12 runs scored. McKinstry made his big-league debut in 2020 as a Dodger but struggled to make an impact in limited action with Los Angeles and had a similar situation with the Cubs last year. However, Detroit has given the 28-year-old a prominent, everyday spot at the top of the order, and McKinstry has responded with quality all-around play.
McKinstry went 3-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and two RBI in Saturday's win over the White Sox. He also stole a base.
McKinstry paced Detroit's offense from the top of the order, chipping in his fourth home run and eighth stolen base of the season. The utility player has become a regular leadoff option for the Tigers and has responded with a .291 batting average. As long as he's hitting first most days, McKinstry should have some fantasy value in deeper leagues.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Walks three times in win
Rotowire
McKinstry went 0-for-1 with three walks, two runs and a stolen base in Thursday's 7-2 win over the White Sox.
McKinstry struck out on three pitches to lead off the game but reached base in every plate appearance thereafter, working three walks and getting hit by a pitch. Those outcomes aren't particularly exciting in most fantasy formats, but the utility man built upon them by swiping a bag and scoring twice. McKinstry has racked up seven steals through 40 games on the campaign, matching his total over 57 contests last year.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: On bench versus southpaw
Rotowire
McKinstry is not in the starting lineup Saturday against the Nationals.
McKinstry will take a seat as the Tigers face off with left-hander Patrick Corbin on the mound Saturday. Andy Ibanez will replace him at second base while Miguel Cabrera enters the lineup at designated hitter and bats seventh versus Washington.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Pops leadoff homer
Rotowire
McKinstry went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 8-6 win over the Nationals.
Getting the start at third base and hitting leadoff, the utility infielder set the tone for the night by driving the fifth pitch he saw from Jake Irvin the other way and over the wall in left-center field for the first of the Tigers' four home runs. McKinstry snapped a 20-game homer drought in the process, but he's been a solid addition to Detroit's lineup this season and is slashing .278/.426/.361 through 14 games in May.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Sitting against lefty
Rotowire
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.
With lefty Rich Hill on the mound for Pittsburgh, the lefty-hitting McKinstry will retreat to the bench for the series finale. Jonathan Schoop will check in for McKinstry at second base, while outfielder Matt Vierling steps in as the Tigers' leadoff hitter.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Riding pine against lefty
Rotowire
McKinstry isn't starting Friday against the Mariners.
McKinstry is riding a three-game hitting streak in which he's gone 5-for-12 with two runs, an RBI and a steal. However, he'll get a breather with left-hander Marco Gonzales on the mound for Seattle. Jonathan Schoop is starting at the keystone and batting eighth.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Swipes fifth bag
Rotowire
McKinstry went 1-for-4 with a steal in Tuesday's loss to the Guardians.
McKinstry is now 5-for-6 in stolen-base attempts, putting him two shy of his total in 57 games last season. The 28-year-old McKinstry has been leading off for the Tigers against right-handed pitching. He's gotten off to a solid start at the plate, slashing .260/.348/.403 with two homers, six RBI and 12 runs scored through 90 plate appearances this season.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Idle versus lefty
Rotowire
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
For the second time in the series, the lefty-hitting McKinstry will retreat to the bench while the Cardinals bring a southpaw (Steven Matz) to the hill. Jonathan Schoop will fill in at second base, while right fielder Matt Vierling replaces McKinstry in the leadoff spot.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Out against lefty
Rotowire
McKinstry isn't in the Tigers' lineup for Friday's game against St. Louis.
With Jordan Montgomery set to start Friday for the Cardinals, the left-handed bat of McKinstry will begin the game in the dugout. Jonathan Schoop will take over at second base and bat sixth.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Sits versus lefty in Game 1
Rotowire
McKinstry is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Mets, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
With the Tigers facing left-hander Joey Lucchesi on the mound for New York in Game 1, McKinstry will take a seat for the matinee. Jonathan Schoop will take over at second base and bat sixth against the Mets.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Leading off again Sunday
Rotowire
McKinstry is starting at second base and batting first in Sunday's game against the Orioles.
McKinstry continues to see regular time at second base and in the leadoff spot for the Tigers. He's responded with a solid .296 batting average and .345 on-base percentage. With McKinstry starting, Jonathan Schoop has had to settle for a reserve role.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Sitting Tuesday
Rotowire
McKinstry is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Brewers.
After three consecutive starts in which McKinstry went 3-for-10 with a home run, the 27-year-old infielder will get a day off Tuesday. Jonathan Schoop will start in McKinstry's place at second base and bat seventh.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Picking up regular starts
Rotowire
McKinstry will start at second base and bat eighth in Monday's game in Milwaukee.
McKinstry will be making his third consecutive start in the middle infield and appears to have at least temporarily captured a regular role while he's one of the few Tigers swinging a hot bat at the moment. Over his last eight games, McKinstry has gone 7-for-20 with two home runs, three doubles, four RBI, four runs and a stolen base.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Smashes second homer of week
Rotowire
McKinstry went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 5-1 loss to Baltimore.
McKinstry had not homered in his first 31 at bats of the season, but he's sent two balls over the fence this week. Saturday's homer was the only run of the game for Detroit. The utility man is hitting .250 in a part-time role with the Tigers.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Hits first home run
Rotowire
McKinstry popped a pinch-hit home run in Wednesday's loss to the Guardians.
McKinstry made his lone at-bat count, as he blasted his first home run of the season in the eighth inning. The utility player has never been a huge power threat, as his career high in home runs is seven. McKinstry should continue to see playing time off the bench for the Tigers.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Losing out on playing time
Rotowire
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
Though manager A.J. Hinch said a week and a half ago that McKinstry would get the bulk of the playing time at second base over Jonathan Schoop, the Tigers already appear to be pulling the plug on that plan. The lefty-hitting McKinstry has now been left out of the lineup for three straight games -- all against right-handed starting pitchers -- after opening his time in Detroit with a .158/.200/.158 slash line in 20 plate appearances. Schoop started at the keystone Sunday and Tuesday, but both he and McKinstry will be on the bench Wednesday with Nick Maton getting a look at the position.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Takes seat Sunday
Rotowire
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
The lefty-hitting McKinstry has started at second base on each of the last four occasions that the Tigers have faced right-handers, but he'll head to the bench for the series finale even with Boston bringing righty Kutter Crawford to the hill. Though McKinstry still appears to be the Tigers' preferred option at the keystone, his 3-for-17 start to the season at the dish may have resulted in him losing some job security. Jonathan Schoop will replace him at the keystone Sunday.
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Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Could see larger role
Rotowire
McKinstry may play in most matchups against righties with Jonathan Schoop mostly only facing lefties, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said Schoop would play "sporadically" against righties, so it sounds like McKinstry will be the more regular choice in those matchups. That gives the latter the strong side of the platoon and a chance at more playing time, though McKinstry hasn't done much at the plate during his MLB career, so he's probably still a fringe fantasy option at this point.
