Zach McKinstry

No Opening Day start for the Tigers' righty killing Carpenter with the southpaw on the mound. It's a rather ugly lineup for a team that just went to the postseason and is hoping to make another run this year: 3B Ibanez, 2B Gleyber Torres, LF Riley Greene, DH Spencer Torkelson, RF Manuel Margot, 1B Colt Keith, SS Baez, C Jake Rogers and CF Ryan Kreidler. Things will look better against right-handers with Carpenter, Trey Sweeney and Zach McKinstry taking the spots of Margot (or maybe Tork), Baez and Ibanez, but it's a fairly weak group overall right now, especially with Parker Meadows sidelined.

McKinstry drew a walk in the third inning and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jake Rogers. He then singled in the fifth and scored on a two-run double by Rogers. The versatile 29-year-old infielder then victimized Orioles' closer Felix Bautista for a solo shot in the sixth that extended the Tigers' lead to 9-1. He's expected to open the season in the strong side of a platoon at third base for the Tigers, though his overall upside from a fantasy perspective remains quite limited.

Ibanez is a right-handed hitter who will play primarily against lefties, which means McKinstry would begin the season on the strong side of a platoon at third base until Matt Vierling (rotator cuff) returns. McKinstry is a career .220/.285/.357 hitter who has struggled this spring, so he's not a recommended add in most fantasy formats.

Perez was supposed to return to game action on Wednesday, but now it seems like Saturday could be the earliest we will see him back out on the field. He has not played since March 2nd, which means he's missed at least 11 games with lower back tightness. With Parker Meadows also sidelined by a nerve issue in his right arm, it looks like the Tigers might have to play Kerry Carpenter and Zach McKinstry in the outfield to start the season and use Spencer Torkelson as their regular designated hitter.