HOUSTON -- The Javier Báez transformation from high-strikeout, low average-hitting shortstop to high-contact, high average-hitting center fielder had seemingly come at the expense of power. Then came the hanging sweeper from Astros rookie starter AJ Blubaugh with the bases loaded in the third inning Wednesday.
Báez didn’t crush it, but he didn’t have to. As soon as he saw Jose Altuve’s reaction in left field, he realized the home run drought was over. His first of the year was a grand slam, and it broke open a game that looked briefly like another early Tigers lead that was vulnerable to an Astros comeback.
“It feels great,” Báez said after Detroit held on for a 7-4 win to avoid a series sweep in the rematch of last year’s AL Wild Card Series. “I’ve been getting hits, hitting the ball well. I’ve been getting jammed, too. Just trying to get there, trying to get that first one out of the way. But just keep doing the same thing, trying to hit the ball well and recognize pitches.”
None of the three games at Daikin Park played out like the pitching duels of last year’s postseason. Wednesday’s series finale was more of a slugfest in the matchup of rookie hurlers Blubaugh, called up for his MLB debut, and Tigers top prospect Jackson Jobe. Jeremy Peña’s homer on Jobe’s first pitch in 12 days set the tone. Colt Keith nullified it with a two-run homer in the second inning, his first of the year.
The big shot came from Báez, something that hasn’t been said for a while. He ends April with a .296 average, his highest average for the opening month since his first season as a Tiger in 2022. He has lowered his chase and whiff rates, and while his average exit velocity, barrel, hard-hit and launch angles are down, he has hit .397 on balls in play. His average bat speed is lower, according to Statcast, but he has squared up balls on a higher percentage of his swings.
“It’s more timing, honestly,” Báez said. “For me, hitting the ball locked up with his legs is the key for power. I’m just trying to focus on that. If I do that and I feel good with my timing, I’m going to feel good with my swing and I’m going to hit the ball.”
Manager A.J. Hinch likes the idea, as long as he doesn’t chase power -- pun totally not intended.
“Really, it’s about quality of at-bat,” Hinch said. “I know everybody’s sort of searching for him to do it a certain way, but if we can just stay with the quality, these will be byproducts. He will start to drive the ball. He’s hit the ball pretty hard recently. … I think that if we can just keep the focus on the quality of at-bat, then we’ll see where the power numbers come.
Until Wednesday, Báez's only extra-base power had been a half-dozen doubles, including three in his previous four games. After Riley Greene’s two-out single and Keith’s walk loaded the bases for him, he fell into an 0-2 hole chasing sweepers, a familiar foe for him.
“I saw during the game that he wasn’t really pitching inside. He was kinda throwing across the plate,” Báez said. “Just trying to make him get that sweeper closer to me. He threw some good pitches to me.”
After a 95 mph fastball out of the zone, Blubaugh went back to the sweeper. He spotted it just off the plate but left it up.
“It was a good pitch,” Báez said. “I just made the adjustment.”
The resulting drive would’ve been out of just four Major League ballparks, according to Statcast, but it was just right for Daikin Park. Báez’s first grand slam since July 2 of last year built a 7-1 lead for Detroit.
It was his only hit of the day, but it left the Astros struggling to chip away. Houston brought the potential tying run to the plate in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings after Altuve’s two-run double chased Jobe with nobody out in the fifth, but the Tigers' bullpen responded each time. Tyler Holton fanned pinch-hitter Yainer Diaz in the seventh, then Tommy Kahnle struck out Christian Walker with two on in the eighth en route to a four-out save.
While the Tigers head to Anaheim for a four-game series against the Angels, Báez heads west batting 7-for-19 with three doubles, a home run and seven RBIs over his last five games.
“I’m not there yet, honestly,” he said. “I’m feeling good. I’m not feeling great. I’ll just come [to the park] tomorrow and keep trying the same thing, to work on my timing and try to hit the ball hard.”