Cleveland — What workload management?
Miguel Cabrera was back in the lineup Sunday, hitting fourth for just the second time this season. Even more rare than him hitting cleanup, he started a day game after a night game.
Tigers manager AJ Hinch explained.
“His production against left-handed pitching has been solid,” he said. “And you know how much I like the right-handed presence in between Riley (Greene) and Carp (Kerry Carpenter).”
Hinch broke up the left-handed hitters with Cabrera and Jake Rogers, which will force Guardians manager Terry Francona to think twice about bringing in a lefty to face Greene later in the game.
Cabrera, to Hinch’s point, is hitting .290 with a .384 on-base percentage and .755 OPS against lefties.
But Cabrera is still 40. He’s still playing through chronic pain in his right knee. And there are 39 games left in his Hall-of-Fame worthy career.
“I’m very well aware of the calendar,” Hinch said. “I do want him to play as much as he can while being productive and not risking him tweaking anything down the stretch. It’s not nostalgia, it’s more strategy. I want him to get as many at-bats against lefties as he can.”
Since July 1, Cabrera is hitting .275 with a .700 OPS, six doubles, a homer and nine RBIs. Talk about earning his at-bats.
“Any hitter will tell you, the more he plays the better he will track the ball and see the ball and time up everything,” Hinch said. “I’ve been very consistent with him on when he’s going to play and who he is going to play against. When I’ve had to back him off, I’ve backed him off. When I can push the gas pedal down, I do that, too.”
Hinch said Cabrera would not start Monday against the Cubs, but would be back in the lineup Tuesday at Comerica.
“I want our fans to see him as much as they can,” Hinch said. “And I want him to be as productive as he can. That balance is always going to be in the front of my mind when I’m making out the lineup.”
Around the horn
Spencer Torkelson was on base four times Saturday with two walks, a double that hit off the yellow tube atop the left-field wall, and a single. He saw 24 pitches in his first three at-bats. In the 11 games before Sunday, he was hitting .316 with three doubles, six homers and seven RBIs.
On deck: Chicago Cubs
▶ Series: Three games at Comerica Park, Detroit
▶ First pitch: Monday-Tuesday — 6:40 p.m.; Wednesday — 1:10 p.m.
▶ TV/radio: Monday-Wednesday — Bally Sports Detroit/97.1 FM
Probables: Monday — RHP Javier Assad (2-2, 3.11) vs. RHP Alex Faedo (2-4, 5.16); Tuesday –— LHP Drew Smyly (9-8, 4.92) vs. RHP Reese Olson (2-5, 4.83); Wednesday — RHP Jameson Taillon (7-8, 5.56) vs. LHP Tarik Skubal (3-2, 3.76).
Scouting report
Assad, Cubs: He’s just been moved in the Cubs’ rotation and they’ve won his last three starts. He doesn’t get a lot of swing-and-miss with his six-pitch arsenal, nor does he give up much hard contract. On the season, opponents are hitting just .229 against him. His main weapons are his sinker and four-seamer (93 mph), cutter to lefties and slider to righties.
Faedo, Tigers: He’s been impressive. Over his last three starts, albeit well-spaced, he’s allowed just three runs in 15.2 innings holding hitters to a .118 batting average. His high-spin, 93-mph heater is holding hitters to a .200 batting average and his slider has been dirty (.188 with a 41% whiff rate). And has teams stack more left-handed hitters, he’s shown that the changeup can be effective, too.
–Chris McCosky
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
X: @cmccosky