Riley Greene sits as Tigers chase Athletics series sweep
Riley Greene is out of the Detroit Tigers lineup Sunday as the club goes for a three-game sweep of the Athletics in Sacramento. The left fielder gets a planned breather against A's left-hander Gage Jump, with Ben Malgeri starting in left field and batting eighth. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m. ET at Sutter Health Field.
Key Takeaways
- Riley Greene sits for the first time since June 29 in a planned rest day.
- Ben Malgeri starts in left field and bats eighth against Athletics lefty Gage Jump.
- The Tigers (53-58) can sweep the Athletics (45-66) in the Sunday series finale.
- Keider Montero (7-6, 3.34 ERA) faces Jump (4-6, 4.00 ERA) at 4:05 p.m. ET.
- Greene could still appear off the bench if a right-hander enters for Oakland.
Why is Riley Greene sitting on Sunday?
According to Yahoo Sports, Riley Greene will get a rare off day while Detroit tries to complete a three-game sweep in Sacramento. CBS Sports frames it as a planned breather and notes it is his first lineup absence since June 29.
The timing also lines up with a left-handed starter on the mound for the Athletics. NBC Sports reports Greene is expected to be available off the bench against a right-hander later in the game, a common way managers rest regulars without fully losing them for the afternoon.
Who replaces Greene in left field?
Ben Malgeri will start in left field and bat eighth for the Tigers. Yahoo Sports also notes that outfielder James Outman and infielders Colt Keith and Javier Baez will be available off the bench.
Fantasy managers tracking daily lineups should account for Greene's absence in Sunday's start, then watch for a late appearance if Oakland turns to a righty. Malgeri's nod is the clearest short-term change for Detroit's outfield alignment.
What is the pitching matchup for the series finale?
Tigers right-hander Keider Montero (7-6, 3.34 ERA) opposes Athletics lefty Gage Jump (4-6, 4.00 ERA). Jump, 23, was a 2024 second-round pick out of LSU and has made 12 starts in a solid rookie season, though Yahoo Sports notes he has been far more effective on the road like many of his teammates.
Montero has been strong for much of 2026 but struggled July 27 against the Orioles, allowing six runs (four earned) on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings with just one strikeout after recording eight punchouts in his prior start against the Cubs.
How can fans follow the Tigers-Athletics finale?
The series finale is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Eastern time at Sutter Health Field in Sacramento. For more lineup cards, start times, and broadcast alerts across MLB and other sports, check our Streaming & TV Alerts hub for the latest game-day updates.
Detroit enters at 53-58, while Oakland sits at 45-66. A win would give the Tigers a clean sweep on the road as they look to build momentum after the series in California.