# Tigers Hand Saturday to the Kids

> Detroit rides a two-game win streak into game two with a lineup full of rookies and a debut-ish arm on the mound.
- Title: Tigers Hand Saturday to the Kids · Detroit Tigers On SI
- Summary: Detroit rides a two-game win streak into game two with a lineup full of rookies and a debut-ish arm on the mound. Detroit is far enough ahead to let its…
- Keywords: mlb, detroit tigers, rookies, max clark, colorado rockies, sports, Tigers, Hand, Saturday, Kids, Detroit Tigers On SI
- Source: Detroit Tigers On SI — https://si.com/mlb/tigers/onsi/tigers-double-down-on-youth-with-saturday-starting-lineup
- Published: 2026-09-12T15:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: mlb, detroit tigers, rookies, max clark, colorado rockies, sports
## Two straight at Comerica
Detroit beat the Rockies 6-2 on Friday night to make it two wins in a row. Framber Valdez kept Colorado off the board deep, while the Tigers hit two homers of their own.
## A series there for the taking
One more win over a struggling Colorado club locks up another home series. The Rockies have been bad on the road all year, well away from the thin air at Coors.
## Sears gets the ball
Keider Montero went on the paternity list, so Andrew Sears takes the mound for game two. First pitch is 1:10 pm EST in Detroit.
## A favorable first look
Colorado has never seen Sears pitch, and he could pick up his first major-league win. A rookie arm against an unfamiliar, road-weary lineup tilts this one Detroit's way.

> this one is leaning Tigers
## The nine A.J. Hinch wrote
McGonigle at third, Hao-Yu Lee at second, Colt Keith at DH, Riley Greene in left, Eduardo Valencia catching, Max Clark in center, Torkelson at first, Callahan in right, John Peck at short.
## A lineup that would not have flown in May
Earlier in the season this card would have been a hard sell. In September, against a team nearing another 100-loss year, it can get the job done.
## Greene is the anchor
He piled up two extra-base hits Friday, including a 412-foot triple off the center field wall that gave Detroit the lead. A double down the left-field line later scored Torkelson.
## Clark finds his legs
His third homer of the year tied Friday's game, the second he has hit at Comerica. He is also getting bolder on the basepaths, and the Tigers have been starved for stolen bases for years.
## Callahan and Peck bring up the rear
Callahan made strong defensive plays in left during the Twins series and is waiting on his bat. Peck is still getting his feet wet, and Detroit would love a multi-hit afternoon from him.
## Key takeaway

Detroit is far enough ahead to let its young core play real September innings, and against a 100-loss Rockies team, that gamble should still win games.