'Kerry Carpenter of the Tigers Substitutes and Scores a Run Against the Guardians in the Fifth Game'

Detroit Tigers power hitter Kerry Carpenter was excluded from the starting lineup for Saturday's Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the home team Cleveland Guardians.

Carpenter is recovering from a left hamstring injury sustained after he rounded third base and scored a run in the sixth inning of Game 4 on Thursday, giving the Tigers a 3-2 lead. Unfortunately, the Tigers were unable to maintain their one-run advantage and lost 5-4, tying the series at 2-2.

Rookie Justyn-Henry Malloy will take on the role of designated hitter and leadoff batter for the crucial Game 5 on Saturday.

\"Whenever you're called upon, let's do this,\" said Malloy, who has a 5-for-7 record in the series.

\"I believe this mindset allows our team to handle any situation, whether it's facing a tough pitcher or a tough hitter. It allows us to stay in the flow of the game.\"

Detroit will aim to stay in the flow as they send their ace Tarik Skubal (1-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound against fellow left-hander Matthew Boyd (0-0, 0.00) on Saturday.

Carpenter, 27, blasted a three-run home run off Cleveland's All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning of a 3-0 victory in Game 2 on Monday. In the postseason, Carpenter has scored three runs and has a 4-for-16 record.

During his third season with the Tigers, Carpenter had a batting average of .284 with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs in 87 games.

Throughout his career of 236 games, Carpenter has a batting average of .276 with 44 home runs and 131 RBIs.