Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Fri 7/10/26 2:16 AM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Athletics.
EDGE Analysis
McKinstry provided Detroit with some breathing room in the fifth inning, launching a two-run homer off Jack Perkins for his fourth long ball of the season. Over his last 11 games, the infielder is batting .295 (13-for-44) while raising his season batting average by 25 points during that stretch.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Fri 7/3/26 8:48 AM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Thursday's 10-4 loss to the Rangers.
EDGE Analysis
While it's been a struggle overall this season for McKinstry, he is showing some signs of life lately. Over his last 12 games, the utility player is batting .304 with an .812 OPS, six RBI and eight runs scored, but McKinstry's season batting average (.199) and OPS (.577) are much more unsightly. The veteran is seeing fairly regular playing time at shortstop for the Tigers, so if he can keep up his recent level of performance, he has a path to consistent fantasy utility in the second half.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Sun 6/28/26 8:15 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 7-5, 10-inning loss to the Astros,
EDGE Analysis
McKinstry hit just his third home run of the season in the second inning to give the Tigers an early lead. It's mostly been an offensive struggle for the utility player, as he's batting just .191 with a .574 OPS, though he does now have consecutive multi-hit efforts. McKinstry is also seeing more regular time at shortstop recently, and he could start to raise his fantasy value a bit if he can string together a few more good performances.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Wed 6/17/26 11:45 AM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.
EDGE Analysis
McKinstry will get the afternoon off after he went 5-for-25 with a solo home run, four walks and four additional runs while starting seven of the Tigers' last eight games. Though he appears to have a grasp on a near-everyday role for now, McKinstry's playing time could dry up if he continues to underwhelm at the plate. He's produced a .168/.258/.245 slash line over 165 plate appearances on the season.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Thu 6/11/26 8:52 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Thursday's 11-0 win over the Twins.
EDGE Analysis
McKinstry's home run came against Minnesota catcher Alex Jackson in mop-up duty, but he'll take it all the same. The utility infielder has gone deep only twice this season in 45 games, and he's batting just .192 with a .564 OPS. It's a fall off from 2025, when McKinstry went deep 12 times in 144 regular-season contests and posted a .259 batting average along with a career-best .771 OPS.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Wed 6/10/26 3:10 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry will start in center field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Twins.
EDGE Analysis
After earning a Silver Slugger Award as a utility player in 2025, McKinstry has noticed a big drop in production to begin the current season but has begun to show signs of life at the plate since the calendar flipped to June. Through his first five games on the month, McKinstry has gone 5-for-15 with a triple, four walks and four runs. He'll be rewarded with a third consecutive start and appears to have at least temporarily moved ahead of Matt Vierling and Wenceel Perez in the pecking order for one of two spots at the bottom of the Detroit lineup.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Fri 6/5/26 2:40 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry is starting in center field and batting eighth Friday against the Mariners.
EDGE Analysis
It will be McKinstry's first action in center field since the 2023 season. The utility man has played second base, third base, shortstop and right field this season, and his positional versatility keeps him on the lineup card more often that not. McKinstry is in the midst of a 1-for-26 skid at the plate, however, and is slashing just .158/.246/.211 with one homer, nine RBI, two runs scored, one stolen base and a 14:23 BB:K across 132 plate appearances this season.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Wed 6/3/26 11:02 AM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
EDGE Analysis
McKinstry had started in each of Detroit's last three games, but he could be at risk of falling into more of a part-time role after the Tigers reinstated Gleyber Torres from the 10-day injured list Tuesday. Since the beginning of May, the Tigers rank 29th in the majors with a .287 wOBA, and McKinstry has played a major part in the team's offensive struggles. During that stretch, McKinstry is slashing just .127/.238/.141 over 86 plate appearances.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Sun 5/24/26 4:25 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry is out of the lineup for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.
EDGE Analysis
After going 0-for-3 with a walk as the Tigers' leadoff batter in a 5-3 loss earlier in the day, the left-handed-hitting McKinstry will take a seat for the nightcap while the Orioles send southpaw Trevor Rogers to the bump. Hao-Yu Lee will enter the starting nine in place of McKinstry, covering second base while batting eighth.
Zach McKinstry 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET Wed 5/20/26 10:57 PM
Zach McKinstry
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF DET
McKinstry went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Wednesday's 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Guardians.
EDGE Analysis
McKinstry was the only Detroit player with multiple hits, and it was his first time doing so since all the way back on April 4. It's been a struggle offensively for the veteran utility player, who is batting just .186 with a .503 OPS this season. McKinstry was much better during the 2025 regular season with a .259 average and .771 OPS, but he has career marks of just .229 and .671, respectively, and 2026 has seen regression set in.