Vierling is not in Saturday's starting lineup against the Athletics.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling got the start Friday against left-hander JP Sears and finished the game 1-for-3 with a solo home run. Against Athletics right-hander Paul Blackburn on Saturday, the Tigers have shifted Mark Canha to right field, while Kerry Carpenter starts at DH.

Vierling went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Friday's 5-4 win over the A's.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling batted leadoff for the Tigers and managed his first home run of the season in the fourth inning. The utility player got the start with lefty JP Sears on the mound for Oakland, but he's still mostly a reserve option at this point, which limits his fantasy upside. That could change if Vierling is able to earn more regular playing time at some point, as he batted a respectable .261 with 10 home runs across 134 games in 2023.

Vierling entered Sunday's game against the White Sox as a pinch runner in the top of the ninth inning, scoring on Andy Ibanez's single.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling stayed in the game to play center field for the bottom of the ninth. After receiving the Opening Day nod in right field against lefty Garrett Crochet, Vierling was on the bench for the final two games of the series against right-handers Michael Soroka and Erick Fedde. There was some talk in spring training that Vierling could be in the mix at third base, but Ibanez, Gio Urshela and Zach McKinstry all appear ahead of him at the hot corner, meaning Vierling will likely continue to operate mostly as a short-side platoon outfielder.

Vierling remains in competition with Gio Urshela for the Tigers' third base job, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager A.J. Hinch said prior to Tuesday's game against the Phillies that "It's still very competitive who's going to get the reps at third base." Zach McKinstry and Andy Ibanez are also in the mix at the hot corner, but it's expected to come down to Urshela or Vierling. Urshela has played the most third base for Detroit this spring, but Vierling is starting there Wednesday and will handle the position two of the next three games, as well.

Vierling went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling connected for his first home run in Grapefruit League play, and it's mostly been a struggle this spring, as he's batting just .160 across 11 games. The versatile 27-year-old may have to settle for a bench role this year with Gio Urshela around to play third base, which would cut into Vierling's fantasy value.

With the Tigers adding Gio Urshela toward the end of February, Vierling may have to settle for a bench role at the start of the season, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran Urshela can fill in at other infield positions, though his most comfortable spot is third base. That could push Vierling into more of a utility role off the bench, with Spencer Torkelson, Colt Keith and Javier Baez likely locked into the other starting jobs. Vierling saw ample playing time for the Tigers in 2023 and showed some promise, finishing with a .717 OPS and 10 home runs across 134 games, but his fantasy appeal is minimal if he's not starting regularly.

Vierling is the favorite to serve as the Tigers' starting third baseman to begin the 2024 season, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling was traded from Philadelphia to Detroit last offseason, and he played at third base in 35 of his 134 games during the 2023 campaign. He slashed .261/.329/.388 with 10 homers, 63 runs, 44 RBI and six steals and should have a chance to earn regular playing time at the hot corner early in 2024. If Vierling struggles as the starting third baseman, the Tigers could turn to Zach McKinstry, Colt Keith, Tyler Nevin or Andy Ibanez at some point.

Vierling went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a two-run home run and two runs scored in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Guardians.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling finished his first season in Detroit on a positive note, blasting his 10th home run and recording his 20th and 21st doubles. The versatile 26-year-old ended up playing in 134 games, seeing his most regular run in right field, though he also played in left, center and at third base. Vierling figures to have a similar role in 2024, with his versatility carrying more value for his MLB team than for fantasy managers, though he could be an option in deeper leagues if the playing time is there.

Vierling went 2-for-5 with a triple, two RBI and one run scored in Thursday's 7-3 victory over the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling struck out in two of his first three trips to the plate before driving in two runs with a single in the bottom of the seventh, tying the game at 3-3. He later added a triple but was left stranded, giving him his fifth multi-hit game this month. Even with the two-hit performance, the right fielder is still batting just .247 (20-for-81) in September with two homers, 11 RBI and 18 runs scored.

Vierling went 1-for-3 with a grand slam, a walk, a second run scored and a stolen base in Thursday's 8-2 win over the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat and ended up coming around to score Detroit's first run of the game after stealing second. He later homered with the bases full in the bottom of the eighth to extend the Tigers' lead to seven runs, marking the first grand slam of his major-league career. He is up to nine home runs this season, which is one more than his total across his first two years in the league with the Phillies. He's batting .375 in September with two homers, seven RBI and 12 runs scored, while the stolen base was his first since July 4.