The Detroit Tigers are about to embark on an extremely important weekend series at Fenway Park and a 10-game road trip. To stay in the race and convince ownership to buy, the Tigers might have to sweep the Red Sox.
With Justin Verlander, Alfredo Simon and Shane Greene the projected starters for the Tigers, a sweep would likely mean a ton of runs.
Since the All-Star Break, the usual suspects in the Detroit lineup have been struggling a bit, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t daily fantasy options with the Tigers on Friday.
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Here are some helpful hints regarding using Detroit hitters on Friday, July 24:
Start the Middle Infielders
Second baseman Ian Kinsler is the only Tigers batter with at least 10 plate appearances versus Friday’s projected starter Rick Porcello. Kinsler is 6-for-10 with two extra-base hits against Porcello. He also has two steals, so owners should like those numbers.
Kinsler is also 12-for-29 (.414) in the last seven games with two home runs, four RBI and seven runs.
Shortstop Jose Iglesias has never faced Porcello, but at times, he has been the only member of the Tigers to not give up in games. He is the only Detroit hitter with a higher batting average than Kinsler in the second half.
Iglesias is hitting 10-for-22 (.455) with four doubles and a homer in the last seven games.
Unfortunately, manager Brad Ausmus moved Iglesias up to eighth, so owners can no longer stack Iglesias and Kinsler together with center fielder Anthony Gose between them, however, the numbers still favor using both middle infielders on Friday.
Draft the Backstop
It is pretty rare to see a catcher start both a night game and then a day game the following afternoon, but James McCann did just that on Wednesday and Thursday.
Clearly, Ausmus is slightly favoring the 25-year-old McCann, and with every game so important for Detroit moving forward, look for Ausmus to start the catcher who is producing at the plate.
In the last week, McCann is 7-for-18 (.389) with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored. If Ausmus starts him again, so should fantasy baseball owners.
Avoid Heart of Order
Perhaps the trade rumors are getting to left fielder Yoenis Cespedes. He is just 6-for-28 (.214) since the All-Star break. Cespedes is also 0-for-3 lifetime versus Porcello.
Designated hitter Victor Martinez’s numbers since the break are not much better. He is 6-for-27 (.222) in the last seven days and also 0-for-3 against Porcello.
Finally, right fielder J.D. Martinez wowed us with one of the longest home runs at Comerica Park on Tuesday, but he is just 5-for-27 (.185) since the second half began.
It is hard to argue any of these guys should be in daily lineups on Friday.
Stack Hitters 7 through 1
We previously mentioned trying to stack Iglesias and Kinsler as the No. 9 and No. 1 batters, but with Iglesias hitting eighth the last few days, owners would have to also draft Gose.
It might not be a bad idea to stack McCann, Iglesias, Gose and Kinsler, who are the No. 7, 8, 9 and 1 hitters in the Detroit Tigers lineup, but Gose is just 3-for-15 (.200) in the last seven days.
Still, if daily owners are looking for a cheaper stack that has favorable numbers for Friday’s contest, look no further than the bottom of the order and lead off hitter for the Detroit Tigers.
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