KERRY CARPENTER

After this weekend’s trade that sent All-Star closer Gregory Soto to the Philadelphia Phillies, it’s a lot easier to make educated guesses about who will be on the Opening Day roster. In fact, unless the Tigers acquire another outfielder in the next five weeks, it’s hard to see how Vierling couldn’t make the club. If the Tigers were more serious about contending in 2023, I might expect them to pursue a first baseman to push Torkelson. (Although, as we’ve seen, that’s unlikely to faze Harris, for whom roster churn is just a part of doing business). Nevin could get DFA’d tomorrow and it wouldn’t surprise me, given the way the roster has churned this winter.

The most notable moves came Friday night, when the Tigers cut ties with longtime infielders Jeimer Candelario, Harold Castro and Willi Castro. The roster shake-up doesn’t mean the Tigers, who finished 30 games under .500, have gotten any better. RHP Beau BrietzeBullpen: RHP Joe Jimenez, LHP Gregory Soto, RHP Alex Lange, RHP Jason Foley, RHP Jose Cisnero, RHP Will Vest, LHP Tyler Alexander, RHP Garrett Hill. If the Tigers make meaningful deals this winter, they will probably have to say goodbye to Jimenez, Soto or Lange. That means the Tigers will probably be searching for one or two players who can play first, second and third base.

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch walked around the visitors' clubhouse in Seattle after his team's season mercifully ended and shared a message with the players. This past season could not have been much worse for the Tigers. Detroit dashed high expectations with an awful April, the first of five straight months with a losing record en route to a 66-96 record that was the third-worst in the American League.

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers put two players on the injured list before Thursday afternoon’s series finale against the Kansas City Royals. But the other one was unexpected: Outfielder Kerry Carpenter felt some lower back tightness after batting practice Wednesday. With only nine games left in the season, the Tigers decided to shut him down. To fill the two roster spots, the Tigers selected the contract of right-handed reliever Miguel Diaz from Triple-A Toledo and recalled infielder Kody Clemens. Carpenter, 25, finishes his rookie season with a .252 average and .752 OPS (128 OPS+) in 113 plate appearances.

The Orioles (77-71) avoided a series and season sweep at the hands of the Tigers (57-92), who beat the Orioles in five of six games this year. The Tigers have 13 games left in the season and must win six of them to avoid reaching 100 losses. Orioles starter Jordan Lyles went all nine innings, logging just the second complete game of his career in 212 starts. The Tigers’ only offense came on a solo homer by rookie left fielder Kerry Carpenter in the seventh. It was Carpenter’s sixth homer of the season in just 100 plate appearances since making his debut on Aug. 10.

The Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles get set to take to the diamond on Wednesday night, with the Tigers holding another shot to play the spoils to the O’s playoff chances in the season finale. Watch the Detroit Tigers on DirecTV StreamComing into the Wednesday night clash, the Tigers are on a high of clinching just their second series win in the month of September. Joey Wentz was credited with his second win of the season, striking out four in 5.2 shutout innings. PROBABLE STARTERSDET: Matt Manning (2-2, 3.28 ERA)BAL: Jordan Lyles (10-11, 4.70 ERA)Check out more stories about the Detroit Tigers here on MLiveWhat: MLB BaseballWho: Detroit Tigers (57-91) vs. Baltimore Orioles (76-71)When: Wednesday, September 21Time: 7:05 p.m. Channel: Bally Sports DetroitStream: DirecTV StreamBuy Tigers gear : Fanatics, Amazon, LidsBuy Tigers tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek, TicketmasterStream Tigers games live: DirecTV StreamCheck out the MLB standings and results on MLB.com

The Detroit Tigers will wrap up their six-game road trip on Sunday afternoon, as they take on the Kansas City Royals in the finale of their three-game weekend series, looking for a sweep. Watch the Detroit Tigers on DirecTV StreamThough it was not a full nine innings on Saturday night, that did not stop Detroit from keeping their offense rolling in the second game of the series. PROBABLE STARTERSDET: Tyler Alexander (3-9, 5.23 ERA)KC: Brady Singer (7-4, 3.38 ERA)Check out more stories about the Detroit Tigers here on MLiveWhat: MLB BaseballWho: Detroit Tigers (54-85) vs. Kansas City Royals (56-84)When: Sunday, September 11Time: 2:10 p.m. ETWhere: Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City, Mo.) Channel: Bally Sports DetroitStream: DirecTV StreamBuy Tigers gear : Fanatics, Amazon, LidsBuy Tigers tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek, TicketmasterStream Tigers games live: DirecTV StreamCheck out the MLB standings and results on MLB.com

Rookies Kerry Carpenter and Ryan Kreidler hit back-to-back home runs in the ninth inning to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday afternoon at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. pic.twitter.com/rL0PEDd1qi — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 7, 2022Carpenter led off the top of the ninth against Angels reliever Jose Quijada and delivered his first career home run and first off a left-hander. Kreidler followed with his first career home (and fourth career hit), a 408-foot bomb, to give the Tigers the lead. Tigers starter Drew Hutchison allowed two runs on five hits in four innings of work. Rookie left-hander Joey Wentz (0-1, 8.10 ERA) will make his third career start for the Tigers.

Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout homered in the same game for the eighth time this season during the Los Angeles Angels' 5-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

DETROIT -- Starting pitcher Matt Manning gave up seven runs and didn’t make it out of the third inning as the Seattle Mariners beat the Detroit Tigers 9-3 in the series opener on Tuesday night at Comerica Park. The Tigers (50-79) and Mariners (71-58) have two more this week in Detroit. The Tigers scored two runs in the eighth against M’s reliever Chris Flexen when Willi Castro singled and scored on Riley Greene’s triple. Tigers right fielder Victor Reyes went 0-for-4, ending a 12-game hitting streak. Box scoreUp nextThe Tigers and Mariners meet again on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. Tigers lefty Tyler Alexander (3-8, 4.83 ERA) will face M’s lefty Marco Gonzales (9-12, 3.97).

Adolis Garcia struck out during a Texas rally that fell short in the ninth inning, ending his 23-game hitting streak as the Detroit Tigers held off the Rangers 9-8.

For the fourth time in three days, the Detroit Tigers will take the field against the American League Central’s top club, as the Cleveland Guardians get set to host the series finale on Wednesday night. Watch the Detroit Tigers on DirecTV StreamDare I say it, the Detroit Tigers are on a winning streak. Cleveland was able to keep it close for the remainder of the game, but the Tigers were able to hang on for a 4-3 win. PROBABLE STARTERSDET: Daniel Norris (0-4, 5.97 ERA)CLE: Cal Quantrill (9-5, 3.67 ERA)Check out more stories about the Detroit Tigers here on MLiveWhat: MLB BaseballWho: Detroit Tigers (45-74) vs. Cleveland Guardians (62-55)When: Wednesday, August 17Time: 7:10 p.m. ETWhere: Progressive Field (Cleveland, Ohio)Channel: Bally Sports DetroitStream: DirecTV StreamBuy Tigers gear : Fanatics, Amazon, LidsBuy Tigers tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek, TicketmasterStream Tigers games live: DirecTV StreamCheck out the MLB standings and results on MLB.com

CLEVELAND -- Rookie Kerry Carpenter blasted another home run and Harold Castro had two doubles as the Detroit Tigers topped the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Tuesday night at Progressive Field. With Javier Baez at second, Castro banged an infield single off the second base bag. The short version: The Tigers up 1-0 after Javier Baez scores from 2nd base on an infield single by Harold Castro. 💪 pic.twitter.com/sFCGqjz4jg — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 16, 2022The Guardians chipped away with an unearned run in the seventh (thanks to Harold Castro’s muffed catch at first base). Box scoreUp nextThe Tigers and Guardians wrap up their four-game series on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. Tigers left-hander Daniel Norris (0-4, 5.97 ERA) will face Guardians right-hander Cal Quantrill (9-5, 3.67).

After their double-header on Monday to kickstart their series, the Detroit Tigers get set to meet with the Cleveland Guardians in the third game of their four-game set on Tuesday. Watch the Detroit Tigers on DirecTV StreamThe two teams played a pair of different games on Monday. Aaron Civale had a great start for the Guardians, striking out 10 Tigers in six innings of work. 4.66 ERA)CLE: Zach Plesac (2-10, 4.32 ERA)Check out more stories about the Detroit Tigers here on MLiveWhat: MLB BaseballWho: Detroit Tigers (44-74) vs. Cleveland Guardians (62-54)When: Tuesday, August 16Time: 7:10 p.m. ETWhere: Progressive Field (Cleveland, Ohio)Channel: Bally Sports DetroitStream: DirecTV StreamBuy Tigers gear : Fanatics, Amazon, LidsBuy Tigers tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek, TicketmasterStream Tigers games live: DirecTV StreamCheck out the MLB standings and results on MLB.com

Jonathan Schoop and rookie Kerry Carpenter hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning, and the Detroit Tigers rallied for a 7-5 win over the Cleveland Guardians in the second game of a doubleheader.

CLEVELAND -- Rookie outfielder Kerry Carpenter had three hits, including his first career home run, as the Detroit Tigers snapped an eight-game losing streak and beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-5 on Monday night at Progressive Field. The Tigers (44-74) split the doubleheader with the Guardians (62-54), who won the opener 4-1. Tigers catcher Tucker Barnhart and outfielder Victor Reyes had three singles apiece, including crucial RBI hits for tack-on runs in the eighth inning. 😲 pic.twitter.com/V8SZuHHzXV — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 16, 2022Gimenez, who singled, doubled and hit a decisive three-run home run in the opener, followed that up with another homer in the nightcap. Box scoreUp nextThe Tigers and Guardians play Game 3 of their four-game series on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. Tigers rookie right-hander Garrett Hill (2-3, 4.46 ERA) will face Cleveland right-hander Zach Plesac (2-10, 4.32).

Vaughn had three hits for the White Sox, who moved within 2 1/2 games of AL Central leader Cleveland. Vaughn’s RBI single off Joe Jiménez (3-2) gave the White Sox a 5-4 lead in the seventh. The White Sox tied it again on Eloy Jiménez’s RBI single in the fourth. ... RHP Vince Velasquez (right index finger blister) was with the White Sox Saturday after his rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte. UP NEXTLHP Tyler Alexander (2-6, 3.83 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Tigers against White Sox RHP Lance Lynn (2-5, 5.88) on Sunday.

DETROIT -- Kerry Carpenter’s arrival to the big leagues was upstaged by the dismissal of the general manager. Thus, what would have been biggest story of the night -- Carpenter’s improbable journey to the big leagues -- was instantly relegated to a footnote. His path from 19th-round pick to the big leagues in three years doesn’t happen very often. Even for a first-rounder, making the big leagues in three seasons is no small feat. The Tigers have never drafted an outfielder later in the 19th round who went on to make the big leagues.

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers retired the final 20 batters of the game but couldn’t muster enough offense, falling to the Cleveland Guardians 3-2 on Wednesday night at Comerica Park. The first-place Guardians (58-52) will go for the three-game sweep against the Tigers (43-69) on Thursday afternoon. The Tigers announced two hours before the game that general manager Al Avila had been dismissed. Tigers starter Drew Hutchison gave up a run in the first and two in the second, but then retired the final eight batters he faced. The Tigers scored two in the fourth inning off Cleveland starter Aaron Civale, thanks to RBI hits by Harold Castro and Eric Haase.

To make room for Carpenter on the active roster, outfielder Daz Cameron will be optioned to Toledo. The Tigers must also make a 40-man roster move that will be announced on Wednesday. TIGERS’ 40-MAN ROSTER (41)Players in bold are on the active rosterLeft-handed pitchers (5): Tyler Alexander, Andrew Chafin, Tarik Skubal*, Gregory Soto, Joey Wentz. Restricted list (1): Left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez does not earn a salary or count against the 40-man roster while on the restricted list. 60-day IL (4): Catcher Jake Rogers (right elbow sprain); and right-handed pitchers Kyle Funkhouser (right shoulder strain), Casey Mize (right elbow sprain) and Spencer Turnbull (right elbow sprain) are on the 60-day injured list, which removes them from the 40-man roster.

As the Detroit Tigers continue to put up historically awful offensive numbers, Kerry Carpenter is enjoying one of the best seasons for any minor league player in the nation.

DETROIT -- Outfielder Kerry Carpenter has been promoted to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. It’s because Carpenter is a 19th round draft pick who, until recently, really wasn’t considered a prospect. “To Kerry’s credit, he worked really hard in the offseason and made some swing changes. He brought them to spring training and worked with our hitting guys,” Garko said. “Kerry is dominating all the power numbers that teams value.”