The Tigers and Mariners get their AL Division Series underway tonight in Seattle, with rookie Troy Melton starting for Detroit against former All-Star George Kirby. Both teams will go with 14 position players and 12 pitchers on their 26-man rosters for the series….
Tigers catchers: Dillon Dingler, Jake Rogers
Infielders: Colt Keith, Trey Sweeney, Spencer Torkelson, Gleyber Torres
Outfielders: Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Jahmai Jones, Parker Meadows, Wenceel Perez
Utility players: Javier Baez, Andy Ibanez, Zach McKinstry
Left-handed pitchers: Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Tarik Skubal
Right-handed pitchers: Kyle Finnegan, Jack Flaherty, Brenan Hanifee, Tommy Kahnle, Troy Melton, Casey Mize, Keider Montero, Rafael Montero, Will Vest
Mariners catchers: Harry Ford, Mitch Garver, Cal Raleigh
Infielders: J.P. Crawford, Josh Naylor, Jorge Polanco, Leo Rivas, Eugenio Suarez, Ben Williamson
Outfielders: Randy Arozarena, Dominic Canzone, Victor Robles, Julio Rodriguez
Utility players: Luke Raley
Left-handed pitchers: Caleb Ferguson, Gabe Speier
Right-handed pitchers: Eduard Bazardo, Matt Brash, Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, Emerson Hancock, Luke Jackson, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Andres Munoz, Carlos Vargas
Keith and Hanifee are newcomers to the playoff roster, replacing Paul Sewald and Justyn-Henry Malloy. Right ribcage inflammation has kept Keith from playing since September 18, and he wasn’t quite ready to go for the Tigers’ wild card series against the Guardians.
As MLB.com notes, Keith isn’t feeling 100 percent but he is good enough to hit, so it is possible he might be limited to pinch-hitting or DH duty in the series. Since the Mariners are heavy on right-handed pitchers, the Tigers’ bench should benefit by adding a left-handed bat like Keith, who hit .267/.346/.439 over 422 plate appearances against righties this season.
The biggest developments on Seattle’s roster were reported earlier today, as Bryan Woo remains sidelined due to a pectoral injury. Josh Naylor’s impending paternity leave is also a major storyline for the series, though the M’s would get to make a mid-series substitution if Naylor did have to depart for the birth of his first child.