Detroit, MI

What new Detroit Tigers lineups could look like after addition of Gio Urshela

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2024

What new Detroit Tigers lineups could look like after addition of Gio Urshela

DETROIT – The addition of free agent third baseman Gio Urshela will have a major impact on the starting lineup for the Detroit Tigers.

Two weeks ago, I took a stab at predicting what the lineup will look like for the Tigers on Opening Day. Obviously, the Urshela signing completely changes that equation — not just for Opening Day, but also for how much flexibility it gives A.J. Hinch on a game-by-game basis.

Assuming Urshela was signed to handle the primary duties at third base, Matt Vierling is now back in the platoon mix at outfield. Three of the four primary outfielders for Detroit are left-handed — Riley Greene, Parker Meadows, and Kerry Carpenter. If Carpenter or Meadows struggle to hit left-handed pitching, Hinch can now insert Vierling into the lineup alongside fellow right-handed corner outfielder Mark Canha.

With Vierling joining Zach McKinstry and Andy Ibanez in more of a utility role, it’s going to be much more difficult for the likes of Justyn-Henry Malloy, Andre Lipcius, Ryan Kreidler, and especially Akil Baddoo to make the Opening Day roster.

I’m going to offer my lineup predictions below, but if you want to read a much more in-depth breakdown of each player and why I put them in certain spots, click here. Those player evaluations are still relevant, even though the lineup positions have changed.

If you want to read more about why I believe Urshela is a good fit for the Tigers, click here.

OK, now let’s get to the lineups.

Lineup vs. right-handed pitchers

Urshela doesn’t have major career splits, but he was much better against left-handers during an injury-shortened 2023 season. His numbers are typically just as good against same-handed pitchers, though.

That being said, Hinch loves to play matchups, and I expect he’ll take some opportunities early in the season to get McKinstry into the lineup at third.

So I think the most common lineup against righties will look something like this:

Mark Canha, LF
Riley Greene, RF
Spencer Torkelson, 1B
Kerry Carpenter, DH
Colt Keith, 2B
Javier Baez, SS
Gio Urshela or Zach McKinstry, 3B
Parker Meadows, CF
Jake Rogers, C

I’m pretty confident in this top three. Those are everyday players who shouldn’t be moved drastically throughout the lineup based on the opposing starter.

The other slots could vary quite a bit more. If Keith doesn’t get off to a slow start, he’s a middle-of-the-order bat. Meadows could move up as far as sixth if he’s hitting righties well early in the season.

Lineup vs. left-handed pitchers

If Hinch wants to stack his lineup with righties against left-handed starters, this Urshela move gives him the ability to do just that.

I still think Keith and Meadows have a chance to play against most lefties because they’ve shown an ability to do so throughout most of their minor-league careers. But Hinch loves to tinker with his lineup, especially to get bench guys into games.

Mark Canha, LF
Riley Greene, RF
Spencer Torkelson, 1B
Matt Vierling, CF
Javier Baez, SS
Gio Urshela, 3B
Colt Keith, DH
Andy Ibanez, 2B
Jake Rogers, C

If Meadows is in the lineup against a lefty, I think he bats ninth, with Rogers moving up to No. 8. Vierling would shift to left field and Canha would become the designated hitter. Either Keith or Ibanez would play second base and bat seventh, with the other on the bench.

Final thoughts

Early season performance from the young left-handed hitters is going to determine how much Hinch adjusts his lineups.

If Carpenter, Keith, and Meadows are all staying afloat against lefties, they won’t get an auto bench in favor of Ibanez and Vierling every time a southpaw comes up on the schedule.

But we’ve seen three seasons of Hinch in Detroit, so we know by now that everyone on the roster is going to play. The “normal lineup” might only get used a few times per week.

I like the Urshela signing because there’s absolutely no risk. The Tigers have one of the lower payrolls in MLB, so taking a $1.5 million flyer on a steady veteran at a position of need is a no-brainer.

But there are definitely a lot of solid everyday players who need at-bats, and Hinch might get creative to make sure everyone gets their reps.

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Detroit, MI

Clear skies give Metro Detroit perfect Blue Moon viewing weather

Published

2 hours ago

May 30, 2026

Press Room

Clear skies give Metro Detroit perfect Blue Moon viewing weather

4Warn Weather – After a gorgeous Saturday, wonderful weather will continue for Metro Detroit for the second half of the weekend and into next week.

Don’t forget to check out the Blue Moon this evening; our sun sets just after 9 p.m. It’s named the Blue Moon not for color, but because it’s the second full moon of the month.

Check out the Blue Moon tonight at dusk (WDIV)

It’s also a micromoon, meaning the moon is at its farthest point from the earth that it will be all month. It will reach peak fullness at 4:45 a.m. Sunday morning.

Having two full moons in one month only happens once about every 2 to 3 years.

Also, Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury will line up in the western sky.

If you’ll be sitting or standing outdoors for a bit, temperatures will be comfortable tonight, falling to near 60° by 10 p.m. before dropping to the low 40s to near 50° overnight.

Forecasted low temps tonight (WDIV)

That leads to a beautiful Sunday with sunshine and highs in the low to mid 70s.

Forecasted high temps Sunday (WDIV)

UV levels will be in the Very High range tomorrow, so if you’ll be outside you may want to grab the sunscreen.

Southeast Michigan will continue to have plenty of sunny days into the coming week. The next chance for rain holds off until late Friday.

Highs will warm to around 80° for Monday for most areas. Closer to the shoreline you’ll find more 70s if not the 60s. Tuesday and Wednesday will feature highs back near 80° before we see mid 80s Thursday and Friday.

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Detroit, MI

Black Legacy Day to be celebrated May 30th in Detroit

Published

12 hours ago

May 30, 2026

Press Room

Black Legacy Day to be celebrated May 30th in Detroit

DETROIT, MI (WXYZ) — The Black Legacy Advancement Coalition’s Black Legacy Day celebration is an intergenerational, joy filled gathering in Detroit, centered around authentic joy and liberation.

On Saturday, May 30th, Detroiters, neighbors, partners and friends of every race, creed and background are invited to share in a day of reflection and fun. Highlights will include a food giveaway, a scavenger race, a men’s basketball tournament and free justice resources.

To learn more, visit www.theblac.co.

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Detroit, MI

Archdiocese of Detroit’s list of parishes chosen for halted Masses grows

Published

22 hours ago

May 30, 2026

Press Room

Archdiocese of Detroit’s list of parishes chosen for halted Masses grows

The list of churches targeted for the possible stoppage of weekend Masses has grown to at least 58 parishes across southeast Michigan, according to the latest proposed models the Archdiocese of Detroit had released as part of its major restructuring process through Friday.

At least 22 parishes under the first round of proposed models wouldn’t hold weekend Mass. The archdiocese has been divided into 15 planning areas, or geographic areas, and three or four models are being proposed for each planning area, said the Rev. Mario Amore, executive director of parish renewal for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

The archdiocese has been holding listening sessions with parishioners this spring as part of its restructuring plan to get reactions.

The models have different proposed groupings of parishes, in which a grouping would share a pastor and potentially other priests. In some cases, selected churches in the grouping would no longer hold Sunday Mass.

The Archdiocese of Detroit released on May 22 and this past week the model proposals for another five planning areas, including areas of Macomb County, Oakland County and Detroit. Around 36 more parishes would no longer hold Mass in the future under the latest proposals.

Bunches of churches in Detroit would be affected, while four parishes in Troy and three parishes in Clinton Township wouldn’t have Saturday Vigil Mass or Sunday Mass under each of the proposed models presented for their planning areas.

Archdiocese of Detroit spokesperson Holly Fournier said the archdiocese has heard a wide range of reactions about the proposed models, which is “understandable given how personal parish life is for people.”

“Some pastors and parishioners are hopeful about opportunities for stronger collaboration and renewed ministry, while others are experiencing more uncertainty and concern, especially in places where one or more models suggest a parish might no longer host weekend Masses in the future,” she said.

Fournier emphasized that the models are “draft models” and aren’t final decisions.

The models for the final six planning areas will be released in June, according to the restructuring website.

The models are part of the archdiocese’s biggest restructuring plan in years. Announced last fall, Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said the archdiocese can’t maintain the roughly 200 existing parish buildings it has and is working to “right-size” the archdiocese, along with its personnel and financial resources.

These are the latest affected parishes in Detroit, Oakland and Macomb counties

Fournier said the draft models were developed by priests earlier this year and are being presented in listening sessions as proposals “meant to spark broader consultation with the faithful.” Each parish in the archdiocese is holding listening sessions this spring or early summer.

In other dioceses that have undergone restructuring processes like the Archdiocese of Detroit’s, as many as 20-40% of the initial models were changed as a result of parishioner feedback, Fournier said.

“That is why it is so important for Catholics to attend their parish listening sessions to view these models and provide their honest feedback, so informed adjustments can be made where necessary,” she said in an email.

One of the most heavily affected groupings is Planning Area 1, which includes west Detroit. Ten of its 13 parishes would not have Saturday Vigil Mass or Sunday Mass in at least one of the model plans. They include Christ the King, Presentation/Our Lady of Victory, SS. Peter and Paul (Jesuit), SS. Peter and Paul (Westside), St. Charles Lwanga Church, St. Mary of Redford, St. Moses the Black Parish, St. Peter Claver Parish, St. Scholastica and St. Suzanne-Our Lady Gate of Heaven, all of which are in Detroit.

Planning Area 9, which includes southeastern Oakland County, has between 15 and 19 parishes, depending on the model. Ten of the parishes wouldn’t hold weekend Mass in at least one of the models. Four of them are in Troy.

They include St. Lucy in Troy, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Troy, Christ Our Light in Troy, St. Thomas More in Troy, St. Owen in Bloomfield Township, Our Lady of La Salette in Berkley, Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Oak Park, St. Justin-St. Mary Magdalen in Hazel Park, St. Vincent Ferrer in Madison Heights and Divine Providence in Southfield.

Planning Area 10, which includes all of northern Oakland County and parts of western Oakland County, has 19 to 22 parishes, depending on the model. Seven would stop holding weekend Mass in at least one of the models, including St. Benedict in Waterford Township, St. Thomas More in Troy, Sacred Heart in Auburn Hills, St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish in Auburn Hills, St. Perpetua in Waterford Township, St. Rita in Holly and Prince of Peace in West Bloomfield Township.

Planning Area 12, which includes parts of southern and eastern Macomb County, has 16 parishes. Four Warren parishes and three Clinton Township parishes would stop holding Mass under the draft models.

St. Louise de Marillac in Warren wouldn’t hold Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass in two of the three draft models presented by the archdiocese. Six other parishes would not hold weekend Mass in only one of the models, including St. Louis in Clinton Township, San Francesco in Clinton Township, St. Ronald in Clinton Township, St. Martin de Porres in Warren, St. Faustina in Warren and St. Mark in Warren.

Planning Area 13, which includes areas of central and northern Macomb County and a parish in Troy, has 14 or 16 parishes, depending on the draft model. Three parishes in the planning area wouldn’t have weekend Mass under at least one of the models: St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Sterling Heights, St. Matthias in Sterling Heights and SS. John and Paul in Washington Township.

Amore said that if a church stops holding Sunday Mass, parishioners are encouraged to worship at other churches in their “pastorate,” which is a grouping of parishes overseen by a pastor. In the long term, the church building might close, or other sacramental celebrations might take place there, such as weddings and baptisms, he said.

The parish’s buildings could also be repurposed for other uses, such as religious education classes.

Fournier said the proposed models are meant to “foster discussion and discernment.”

“We encourage Catholics to stay engaged in the process, share their feedback honestly, and remember that the goal is not simply organizational change, but ensuring vibrant Catholic communities for future generations,” she said.

asnabes@detroitnews.com

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