The Tigers made another minor-league acquisition Thursday, purchasing the contract of left-handed-hitting utility infielder Joe Rizzo from the Miami Marlins.
Rizzo, 25, a second-round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2016, was assigned to Triple-A Toledo. He is not on the Tigers’ 40-man roster.
He was playing at Triple-A Jacksonville since May 17. In three seasons of Double-A ball, he slashed .261/.332/.428. He’s played third base, second base and first base, and one game in the outfield.
On deck: Diamondbacks
Series: Three games at Comerica Park
Diamondbacks <QL>at Tigers
Series: Three games at Comerica Park
First pitch: Friday – 6:40 p.m.; Saturday – 1:10 p.m.; Sunday: 11:35 a.m.
TV/radio: Friday-Saturday – Bally Sports Detroit, 97.1; Sunday – Peacock, 97.1.
Probables: Friday – RHP Merrill Kelly (7-3, 2.80) vs. RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-2, 3.21); Saturday – RHP Ryne Nelson (2-3, 5.40) vs. LHP Matthew Boyd (3-4, 5.57); Sunday – RHP Zac Gallen (7-2, 2,75) vs. Joey Wentz (1-6, 7.49).
Kelly, Diamondbacks: The onslaught of high-quality right-handed starters continues for the Tigers. His seven wins are tops in baseball and opponents are hitting .194 against him. He has a six-pitch mix, but most deadly are his hard (89 mph) changeup, which his holding hitters to a .125 average with a 34.7% whiff rate, and cutter, holding hitters to a .154 average. His chase rate is in the top 9 percentile in baseball (34%).
Lorenzen, Tigers: He’s been a rock for an injury-racked rotation, for sure. He is 4-2 in his last six starts, with a 1.83 ERA. Five of the eight earned runs he’s allowed in his last 39.1 innings came in one start. Hitters are slashing .169/.208/.272 against him in that stretch.
Twitter: @cmccosky