Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Fri 6/21/24 2:36 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry is not part of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox.
EDGE Analysis
After starting four of the Tigers' last five games at shortstop, McKinstry will yield to Ryan Kreidler on Friday. McKinstry has two hits in his last 23 at-bats and has struck out nine times during that span.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Mon 6/17/24 4:09 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Atlanta.
EDGE Analysis
He and Ryan Kreidler have split the starts at shortstop down the middle, with both getting four apiece since Javier Baez (back) went on the injured list. McKinstry has now been on the bench for all three contests versus lefties, as Atlanta is starting southpaw Max Fried on Monday.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Fri 6/14/24 5:06 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Houston.
EDGE Analysis
McKinstry will give way to the righty-hitting Ryan Kreidler at shortstop Friday despite right-hander Hunter Brown on the mound for the Astros. It'll be Kreidler's third start since Javier Baez (back) got injured, while McKinstry has only had two starts during that stretch.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Thu 6/13/24 10:22 AM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals.
EDGE Analysis
Since Javier Baez sat out Sunday's 10-2 win over the Brewers before being placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with lumbar spine inflammation, McKinstry and Ryan Kreidler have both picked up a pair of starts at shortstop. Though manager A.J. Hinch suggested that the two shortstops wouldn't work in a strict platoon, both of McKinstry's starts have come against right-handed pitching. Kreidler, meanwhile, will start at shortstop Thursday versus lefty Patrick Corbin, after Kreidler was previously included in the lineup Tuesday, when southpaw Mitchell Parker was on the bump for Washington.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Tue 6/11/24 3:45 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that McKinstry and Ryan Kreidler will share shortstop while Javier Baez (back) is out, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
EDGE Analysis
Hinch said it won't be a strict platoon between the two players but will be close to that. As the left-handed bat, McKinstry will be in line to receive the bulk of the reps at the position, although Kreidler is starting there Tuesday versus Nationals lefty Mitchell Parker. Hinch noted that Andy Ibanez could see a handful of innings at shortstop, as well.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Sun 6/9/24 10:54 AM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry is starting at shortstop and batting seventh in Sunday's game against the Brewers.
EDGE Analysis
Javier Baez started the first two games of the series at shortstop, but he'll hit the bench Sunday and give way to McKinstry. Baez is struggling mightily this season with a .183/.209/.247 slash line, so McKinstry could earn more playing time moving forward, though the latter profiles more as a utility player than an everyday starter.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Tue 6/4/24 11:01 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry went 2-for-4 with a triple and a two-run home run in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Rangers.
EDGE Analysis
McKinstry launched his first home run of the season in the second inning, then followed with his second triple of the year in the fourth. While Javier Baez is still the team's primary option at shortstop, McKinstry has managed to carve out a sizeable role amid Baez's struggles at the plate. McKinstry is probably best suited as a utility player, however, so he likely will continue to move around the field rather than replace Baez altogether.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Sun 6/2/24 12:53 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
EDGE Analysis
McKinstry picked up starts at shortstop and second base Friday and Saturday, respectively, going 1-for-6 with a double. Though both Colt Keith (.594 OPS) and Javier Baez (.481 OPS) have turned in poor numbers as the Tigers' regular starters in the middle infield this season, McKinstry (.499 OPS in 91 plate appearances) hasn't done much to make a case for steadier playing time.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Sun 4/7/24 10:02 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry went 1-for-3 with a walk in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Athletics and is now batting .313 across seven appearances this season.
EDGE Analysis
McKinstry isn't known as an offensive threat, but he's off to a strong start in his utility role. He started at shortstop Sunday with regular Javier Baez, who is batting just .154 so far, getting the day off. Baez will likely stick as the primary starter, though McKinstry could start to earn more playing time if he continues to reach base at a solid clip.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Wed 3/20/24 9:48 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
With Gio Urshela not locked into the starting third base job yet, McKinstry may have a path to more regular playing time at the hot corner, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
EDGE Analysis
Petzold went on to note that McKinstry is still likely best suited for a utility role off the bench, but the uncertainty at third base could work in his favor. For now, Urshela along with Matt Vierling seem like the top options at the hot corner, with McKinstry available there and elsewhere across the diamond. The 28-year-old offers nice versatility, though he's never produced much offensively at the MLB level.