Trey Sweeney’s huge night might’ve just locked in his place with the Tigers

On Sunday, entering their last of four games against the Angels, the Tigers were looking for the first series win on the road since their April 11-13 series against the Twins. They had the upper hand after winning the first two games, but LA jumped on Jack Flaherty on Saturday while the Tigers struggled to get a hit off of Kyle Hendricks. A series split wouldn't have been the end of the world, but Detroit's lopsided home and away records needed some evening up.

The 13-1 rout that the Tigers ended up pulling off against the Angels in the finale was one to behold, and it was spearheaded by two key bats: Kerry Carpenter and Trey Sweeney. Sweeney hit first, with an RBI single in the top of the second, and Carpenter tacked on two more with a double. By the end of the game, all of Detroit's runs were driven in by just three players: Colt Keith (two-run homer), Carpenter (five RBI), and Sweeney (six).

It was, by far, Sweeney's best night of his young career. On top of his go-ahead RBI single, he hit a three-run homer in the top of the seventh and drove in two more on another single in the top of the ninth.

With a roster crunch on the horizon — as soon as Matt Vierling gets back from his rehab assignment — Sweeney might've secured his future in the lineup.

Trey Sweeney's career-high 6 RBI game against the Angels might help him stay on the Tigers' roster

Sweeney's place on the Opening Day roster was basically assured during spring training, given that he was the best option the Tigers had to try to give Javy Báez as little playing time as possible. With Báez doing miraculously well to start the season, the Tigers could've looked at Sweeney as an option to send down when Vierling comes back in the next few weeks.

Now, he's shifting the attention toward Jace Jung and Justyn-Henry Malloy. Jung still hasn't been batting well since he was promoted on April 21 (he's batting .100 with a .370 OPS), and the Tigers could replace him at third with a combination of Báez, Vierling, Zach McKinstry, and Andy Ibáñez. Malloy's also been struggling and is 0- for his last -10, and the Tigers still need outfield options.

Sweeney, meanwhile, is on a five-game hitting streak capped off beautifully with his four-hit night. Even if he doesn't stay as hot but steadies out, he'll be far from top of mind when the roster crunch comes.