Tigers' Kerry Carpenter: Logs three ABs off bench in Game 5
Rotowire
Carpenter (hamstring) entered Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Guardians in Game 5 of the ALDS in the top of the fifth inning and went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Carpenter exited the Tigers' Game 4 loss with a left hamstring injury and was viewed as a game-time decision leading up to the series finale, but he was ultimately excluded from the lineup. However, manager A.J. Hinch's choice not to start the left-handed-hitting Carpenter might have made more to do with the matchup against Guardians southpaw Matthew Boyd than the hamstring injury. Carpenter stepped in as a pinch hitter for designated hitter Justyn-Henry Malloy in the fifth inning, with Boyd having already departed the game by that point. Though Carpenter's hamstring issue may have prevented him from playing the outfield had the Tigers advanced to the ALCS, he'll now have the entire winter to move past the injury. He should be back to 100 percent well before spring training.
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Tigers' Kerry Carpenter: Absent from lineup
Rotowire
Carpenter (hamstring) isn't in the lineup Saturday for Game 5 of the ALDS versus the Guardians.
A left hamstring injury forced Carpenter to make an early exit from Game 4. He's slated to go through a workout before Saturday's contest, after which the Tigers will make a decision on his availability to serve as a pinch hitter once southpaw Matthew Boyd exits the game. Justyn-Henry Malloy is set to serve as Detroit's DH while batting leadoff.
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Tigers' Kerry Carpenter: Will be game-time decision
Rotowire
Carpenter (hamstring) will be a game-time decision for Game 5 of the ALDS against the Guardians on Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Carpenter injured his left hamstring while scoring a run in the sixth inning of Thursday's Game 4 loss. He will test out his hamstring Friday and Saturday before the club makes a decision on his status. Bligh Madris has joined the Tigers as a contingency plan in case a roster move with Carpenter is required.
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Tigers' Kerry Carpenter: Exits Thursday's game
Rotowire
Carpenter exited Thursday's game against the Guardians due to a left hamstring injury, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Carpenter reached base on a single in the sixth inning and came around to score, but he was spotted hobbling around third base. He was replaced by a pinch hitter for his next at-bat, though the severity of the injury is unclear.
Carpenter is not in the lineup Monday for Game 2 of the ALDS in Cleveland.
Carpenter routinely sits versus lefties and will do so in this instance versus Guardians southpaw Matthew Boyd. He is a good bet to enter the contest off the bench when/if Cleveland goes to a righty reliever. Justyn-Henry Malloy will be the designated hitter and leadoff man in Game 2.
Carpenter is absent from the lineup Tuesday for Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Astros.
The left-handed-hitting Carpenter doesn't typically start against lefties, so it's not a surprise to see him out of the lineup as the Astros send southpaw Framber Valdez to the hill. Justyn-Henry Malloy will be the Tigers' designated hitter and No. 2 hitter.
Tigers' Kerry Carpenter: Pops grand slam in season finale
Rotowire
Carpenter went 1-for-5 with a grand slam in Sunday's 9-5 loss to the White Sox.
Carpenter made his lone hit count, going deep with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. The 27-year-old finishes the 2024 campaign with 18 home runs and a robust .932 OPS across 87 games. Injuries slowed Carpenter down a bit this season, but he's now primed to lead the Tigers into the postseason, and he could be a breakout candidate in 2025 if he manages to have better luck with his health.
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Tigers' Kerry Carpenter: Not facing lefty
Rotowire
Carpenter is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox.
Carpenter will dodge a same-hand matchup with Garrett Crochet, giving way to Justyn-Henry Malloy at DH. In his last six games, Carpenter is 6-for-15 (.400) with a pair of homers.
Carpenter is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays.
With southpaw Tyler Alexander toeing the rubber for the Rays, the left-handed-hitting Carpenter will take a seat for the series finale. Andy Ibanez will enter the Detroit lineup as a replacement for Carpenter and will serve as the Tigers' leadoff hitter.
Carpenter went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Orioles.
Carpenter continued to help power the Tigers toward an unlikely playoff berth, as he's now sporting a robust .952 OPS to go with 17 home runs in just 82 games this season. The most important thing has been that the 27-year-old is healthy, as he missed nearly three months of action with a lumbar spine stress fracture earlier this year. When Carpenter is in the lineup, he's turned into a reliable fantasy option.
