BALTIMORE – Detroit Tigers utility player Zach McKinstry has a .185 batting average in 30 games.
But the Tigers have McKinstry in the leadoff spot Sunday, May 24, for Game 1 of a doubleheader (12:35 p.m., 6:05 p.m.) against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
“We’ve got to create some traffic in front of Kevin [McGonigle], [Dillon] Dingler and Riley [Greene],” manager A.J. Hinch said before Sunday’s games.
Celebrate 125 years of Tigers with our book!
McKinstry – an All-Star in 2025 as a replacement for Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña – has a .242 on-base percentage in 2026, which ranks ninth among the 10 players from the Tigers with at least 90 plate appearances.
However, McKinstry is one of the best players at putting the ball in play.
“I love the opportunity to get up there and get a couple of at-bats – and show them what I can do,” McKinstry said.
The Tigers are counting on a quality plate appearance from McKinstry in the first inning against Orioles right-hander Brandon Young, who has a 4.25 ERA in six starts.
So is McKinstry.
“Not trying to do too much,” McKinstry said. “I’ll continue to do what I’ve been doing – having good at-bats, putting the ball in play and trying to help the team win.”
If McKinstry hits a single, don’t be surprised if he gets aggressive on the bases to force his way into scoring position for the next three batters: McGonigle, Dingler and Greene.
The Tigers’ lineup for Game 1, with left-hander Framber Valdez as the starting pitcher:
Hinch explained why he didn’t put Keith in the leadoff spot.
“I wanted to move Colt down to relieve a little bit of the stress and tension that I’m seeing in some of his at-bats,” Hinch said, referencing Keith’s five hits (and two walks) through 41 plate appearances in his past 14 games. “Wenceel needs to stay at the bottom, given what he’s going through.”
The absence of second baseman Gleyber Torres has taken away the Tigers’ on-base presence at the top of the lineup. He is dealing with a lingering left oblique strain.
His .389 on-base percentage ranks third on the Tigers.
“Just the presence alone and the on-base skills alone,” Hinch said. “Even on his bad days, he’s going to find a way to get on base or get a hit, and that’s very, very stable in the top third of the order. Everything changes when you lose someone of Gleyber’s presence, and we’ve got to overcome it.”
The Tigers are desperate for runs: They’ve averaged just 2.47 runs per game in their past 17 games, resulting in 15 losses.
“Z-Mac is a really good baserunner,” Hinch said. “It’s a good baserunner, a faster baserunner and a left-handed bat. The guys in the middle of our order have been very consistent. Hopefully, we get Z-Mac on base.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why is Zach McKinstry in leadoff spot for Game 1? A.J. Hinch explains
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
