Detroit Tigers Lineup for Game 1 vs. Cardinals

The Detroit Tigers (31-16) are one of the hottest teams in baseball and begin a three-game interleague showdown tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals (26-21). Riding high winning seven of ten and the best run differential in the division (+87), Detroit will hand the ball to Sean Guenther, who is set to make his first Major League start.

🟡 TL;DR

• Tigers enter at 31-16, sitting atop the AL Central.
• Sean Guenther (0-0, 2.25 ERA) makes his first start against Cardinals veteran Sonny Gray (4-1, 4.50 ERA).
• Kerry Carpenter leads off, while Riley Greene continues to rake from the cleanup spot.
• First pitch: 7:45 p.m. ET on FanDuel Sports Detroit and 97.1 The Ticket.

🔶 Tigers Starting Lineup – Monday, May 19

Here’s how Detroit will line up in Game 1 at Busch Stadium:

1. Kerry Carpenter – RF
2. Gleyber Torres – 2B
3. Colt Keith – 1B
4. Riley Greene – CF
5. Spencer Torkelson – DH
6. Zach McKinstry – 3B
7. Trey Sweeney – SS
8. Dillon Dingler – C
9. Akil Baddoo – LF
   SP: Sean Guenther – LHP (0-0, 2.25 ERA)

🔍 Quick Hitters

Sean Guenther gets the spotlight

Making his first MLB start, Guenther has impressed out of the bullpen with a 2.25 ERA over four innings this year. His challenge tonight: slowing down a Cardinals lineup that ranks fifth in the NL in OPS (.734).

Riley Greene = Red hot

Over the last 30 days, Greene is hitting .306 with 8 homers and 22 RBIs. On the season, he is second behind Spencer Torkelson in home runs (11) and OPS (.839), and he’s looking every bit like an All-Star candidate.

Torkelson’s power returning

Spencer Torkelson has now hit 12 homers so far this season and has 38 RBIs. His bat in the middle of the lineup could be a difference-maker in this series.

📊 Tigers at a Glance

• Record: 31-16 (1st in AL Central)
• Run Differential: +87 (best in AL)
• Away Record: 14-11
• Record vs. NL teams: 5-3
• Current streak: Won 7 of last 10

🗓️ What’s Next

• May 20: Game 2 at Cardinals – 7:45 PM ET
• May 21: Game 3 at Cardinals – 1:15 PM ET
• May 22: OFF DAY
• May 23–26: Four-game home series vs. Toronto Blue Jays

Sources: MLB.com, ESPN.com, Detroit Tigers X. Drafted with AI assistance and fact-checked by DSN editorial staff.