Detroit — Don’t look now, but veteran Jonathan Schoop is heating up.
Even though his playing time remains sporadic, he’s slashed .368/.429/.474 with a .902 OPS over his last 21 plate appearances, spanning eight games, including two hits and two runs scored Saturday. He’s raised his batting average from .193 to .237.
“He’s been really good at balancing the right amount of hunger with the right amount of respect for what his role is on this particular team right now,” manager AJ Hinch said. “It can change at a moment’s notice. But, I have been happy with how he’s accepted it and done his part.”
Hinch has gotten positive results putting the right-handed hitting Schoop in favorable matchups this year, whether it’s been starting against left-handers or coming off the bench later in games. Schoop is hitting .314 against lefties and is 3-for-8 as a pinch-hitter.
Still, it was curious Schoop wasn’t in the starting lineup against White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease on Sunday. Schoop has hit Cease better than any Tigers player (.320 average, .986 OPS with two homers).
Hinch explained his decision.
“We’re trying to put out the best team that we can and also leave some weapons off the bench, as well,” he said. “When Jonathan is swinging it great, maybe the bases-loaded at-bat (Saturday) against (White Sox lefty) Garrett Crochet is a big at-bat. You can’t just assume that the starting players are the ones who are going to have the most important at-bat.”
This has been the method all season. The team isn’t built with eight everyday position players. There are 13 interchangeable players, each with different and unique strengths and weaknesses. Hinch is tasked daily with identifying, creating and exploiting matchup advantages.
And for the most part, it’s worked. The Tigers came into the game Sunday two games out of first place in the division, despite having the third-worst run production and third-worst OPS in baseball. They are scrapping and finding different ways to win games.
“I don’t look at it as a demotion when someone doesn’t start,” Hinch said. “I see it as someone I can really utilize maybe even more aggressively off the bench … We’ve grown to think it’s a negative thing to be on the bench to start the game. But, the way we utilize our team, we need these guys to stay ready.
“Maybe that first at-bat against the starting pitcher isn’t the most critical at-bat for a guy who is swinging the bat well.”
Around the horn
… The Tigers are listing TBA for Wednesday’s start against the Texas Rangers. That is lefty Joey Wentz’s start day and Hinch said Wentz will be ready to pitch that day. But, he may follow an opener. “We don’t know yet what we’re going to do,” Hinch said. “Just out of respect for Texas, we’re keeping it TBA. We’re not sure who’s actually starting the game. Joey certainly is going to be ready to go.”
… Tigers right-handed starter Michael Lorenzen had a spectacular month of May. His outing Saturday with 5.2 perfect innings was the capper. In five starts, he allowed just seven runs in 32.1 innings (1.95 ERA) with 20 strikeouts. His .186 opponent average and 0.87 WHIP were sixth-best among qualified pitchers for the month.
On deck: Rangers
Series: Three games at Comerica Park
First pitch: Monday – 1:10 p.m.; Tuesday – 6:40 p.m.; Wednesday – 1:10 p.m.
TV/radio: Monday-Wednesday – BSD/97.1
Probables: Monday – RHP Nathan Eovaldi (6-2, 2.60) vs. LHP Matthew Boyd (5.74); Tuesday – LHP Martin Perez (6-1, 3.83) vs. RHP Alex Faedo (1-2, 4.15); Wednesday – TBA vs. TBA
Eovaldi, Rangers: He’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball over his last five starts. He’s 4-0, allowing four runs in 41.1 innings with 35 strikeouts and four walks. Opponents are hitting .158 and slugging .237 against him in those starts. His splitter, which he throws off a 96-mph four-seamer, is holding hitters to a .178 average and getting a 35% whiff rate.
Boyd, Tigers: His last two starts have been very good, even if they were both short by his standards. He’s allowed four runs in 10.1 innings with 10 strikeouts and four walks, holding hitters to a .194 average. His slider was back in 2019 form against the Royals his last time out. He got 10 swinging strikes on 13 swings with it.
Twitter: @cmccosky