Detroit’s Ben Malgeri likely earned another opportunity to show what he can contribute when the Tigers host the New York Yankees in the rubber game of their three-game series on Wednesday evening.
Malgeri, 26, started in right field for the Tigers in his MLB debut on Tuesday and went 2-for-3 with a run scored in a 4-3 loss to the Yankees.
“He was able to get his first knock and his second knock,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said following the loss that ended a four-game winning streak.” I think he showed exactly what we’re excited about, which is his approach versus these lefties is pretty impressive.”
The Yankees are scheduled to start another left-hander, Ryan Weathers, in the series finale on Wednesday, so there’s a good chance Malgeri earned another spot in the starting lineup.
Malgeri began Tuesday by lining the first MLB pitch he saw from veteran left-hander Carlos Rodon into right field to put runners on the corners with one out. Malgeri later scored to give the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.
Malgeri came up in the seventh inning with Detroit trailing 4-3 and singled with one out but was doubled up off first base on a sinking line drive that right fielder Jasson Dominguez came close to trapping, but a video review confirmed the ball was caught.
“It was an emotional day for him, an energetic day for him,” Hinch said of Malgeri. “I thought he handled it well. Probably the most nervous he’s been in his life, and you couldn’t tell when he was up to bat or around the dugout or anything like that.”
The Tigers plan to start a left-hander of their own on Wednesday, two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.
Skubal (3-3, 3.02 ERA) will make his third start since missing five-plus weeks following an arthroscopic procedure to remove a loose body from his left elbow on May 6.
He’s still looking for his first win since his return, most recently going without a decision after allowing three runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
Skubal departed with the Tigers trailing 3-2 before they scored twice in the bottom of the sixth and held on for the win.
Skubal has made six starts in his career against the Yankees, going 2-2 with 2.45 ERA.
Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is 5-for-10 in his career against Skubal, with two home runs.
Austin Wells was 0-for-15 in June until delivering an RBI double in the sixth inning Wednesday to drive in the fourth run of the game. Yankees manager Aaron Boone is seeing positive signs in the batter’s box from his 26-year-old catcher.
“I feel like he’s been in position a lot better on a lot more pitches, whether it’s a take, whether it’s a foul ball, whether it’s an out, I feel like he’s getting in a stronger position,” Boone said. “If he does that, the results will follow.”
Weathers (2-5, 4.13 ERA) is winless in his past seven starts, going 0-3 with a 5.14 ERA.
He most recently allowed one run and three hits in 6 1/3 innings against the White Sox last Thursday, leaving with the score 1-1 before the Yankees lost 5-1.
“It feels nice to keep the team in the game,” Weathers said. “My last couple of times haven’t been that, so it felt nice to be out there and competing. I felt like my old self again.”
Weathers made his only appearance against the Tigers on May 14, 2024, as a member of the Miami Marlins and breezed through eight shutout innings in the 1-0 win in 10 innings.
–Field Level Media
