Detroit Tigers Lineup: Don Kelly Takes A Seat Saturday in Baltimore
By Matt Snyder
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May 24, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Avisail Garcia (34) at bat against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Orioles have right-hander Jason Hammel making the start — typically a situation in which we’ve seen Don Kelly man an outfield spot — but the Jim Leyland has decided to give him a seat in favor of Avisail Garcia (who homered yesterday) and Matt Tuiasosopo.
Here’s the Tigers’ Saturday lineup as Tweeted by Tigers’ Baseball Media Relations Manager Rick Thompson:
Today's lineup: Infante 4, Dirks 9, Cabrera 5, Fielder 3, Martinez DH, Peralta 6, Avila 2, Tuiasosopo 7, Garcia 8. Verlander is pitching.
— Rick Thompson (@Thompson_Tigers) June 1, 2013
Tigers fans have been clamoring for Don Kelly to get more bench time — he’s been playing an awful lot in the wake of Austin Jackson‘s injury — and it looks like Jim Leyland is deciding to oblige them. Prospect Avisail Garcia hasn’t had a lot of opportunities to hit in the big leagues against right handed pitching, but he may be getting a mini-shot here. It’s difficult to imagine him staying with the Tigers when Jackson returns (he needs to get regular at-bats to continue to develop as a hitter), but he has a chance to make a case for his being the number option as the everyday center fielder in his absence.