Detroit Tigers game vs. New York Yankees: Akil Baddoo in LF as Brendan White is ‘opener’

Detroit Tigers (59-73) vs. New York Yankees (64-68)

When: 6:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Where: Comerica Park in Detroit.

TV: Bally Sports Detroit.

Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) in Detroit (Tigers radio affiliates).

Starting pitchers: Tigers RHP Brendan White (2-2, 4.03 ERA) vs. Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole (11-4, 2.95 ERA).

• Box score

Tigers lineup:

1. LF Akil Baddoo.

2. RF Riley Greene.

3. 1B Spencer Torkelson.

4. DH Kerry Carpenter.

5. SS Zach McKinstry.

6. 3B Matt Vierling.

7. CF Parker Meadows.

8. 2B Andy Ibanez.

9. C Jake Rogers.

RHP Brendan White.

Who to follow: Evan Petzold, Free Press beat writer on Tigers.

Game notes: The Tigers and their young hitters will get the opportunity to go against one of the best pitchers in the major leagues on Wednesday.

Although the Yankees are struggling this season, Gerrit Cole is not. He’s putting together another stellar season in his fourth campaign in the pinstripes, perhaps his best yet. Cole has made 27 starts this season and compiled 168 innings pitched, including five shutouts.

Cole looked great in his last outing against the Tampa Bay Rays, one of the best teams in the MLB, and allowed just three hits and one run in 7⅔ innings, but had his worst showing of his season the time out before that. Cole gave up six earned runs and seven hits in just four innings on Aug. 19 against the Boston Red Sox, making it sting that much more, surely.

Only two Tigers have faced Cole more than five times in their career: Javier Báez and Miguel Cabrera. Miggy has a career .217 average in 23 at-bats against Cole, while Báez has a .150 average in 20 at-bats, so neither has had a great time, which could be why neither is starting Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Tigers have had their rotation shaken up a bit due to a back injury Matt Manning picked up during his last start. According to the Freep’s Evan Petzold, left-hander Joey Wentz will appear in the game Wednesday as a reliever to eat some innings after White goes through the first few Yankees in the lineup. Wentz has a 2.00 ERA in two appearances as a bulk reliever following an opener, and a 7.17 ERA in 17 starts.

Manning will now pitch on Thursday and get an extra day to recover after tweaking his back.