Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling (knee) is back in the Grapefruit League lineup on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Kevin Gausman. Vierling is starting in left field and is batting leadoff in his return. A knee strain costed Vierling the last 10 days in spring training, but he is back and ready to go. The former Philadelphia Phillie will be hoping to pick up where he left off in spring action, as he'll take a .467 batting average (7-for-15) with two home runs, four RBI, four runs scored and a stolen base into Monday's contest. In his first year in Detroit, the 26-year-old outfielder figures to once again be on the short side of an outfield platoon, which limits his fantasy appeal to AL-only formats.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling (knee) suffered a right knee strain in spring training earlier this week. Vierling will return to baseball activities over the weekend, but there isn't a concrete timetable for his return to Grapefruit League games. The 26-year-old seems unlikely to miss significant time this spring. He was officially diagnosed with a mild posterior knee muscle strain. Vierling is hitting a strong .467 (7-for-15) with two home runs, a walk and a strikeout in six games to this point. If healthy, the former Phillie projects to have a starting spot in Detroit's outfield in 2023. He's more effective in a platoon role while sitting against right-handed pitchers, so Vierling should only be valuable in deep mixed and AL-only leagues.

The Detroit Tigers acquired infielder Nick Maton, outfielder Matt Vierling and catcher Donny Sands from the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday in exchange for reliever Gregory Soto and infielder Kody Clemens. With Soto now in Philly, it will likely be Alex Lange taking over Detroit's primary closing duties in 2023. Maton, a utility infielder who has hit .254/.330/434 in his two seasons with the Phillies, could see more playing time in his new home, but he's unlikely to make much of a fantasy impact. Vierling, a right-handed hitting outfielder, will give the Tigers some outfield depth against southpaws. Sands, the Phillies' No. 21 prospect per MLB Pipeline, made his big-league debut in 2022 but played in just two games. He's a contact-first hitter that has added some more loft to his swing recently. The 26-year-old projects as a backup catcher for Detroit.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Matt Vierling and shortstop Edmundo Sosa are in the starting lineup for Game 6 of the World Series against the Houston Astros and left-hander Framber Valdez. Brandon Marsh and rookie Bryson Stott will start on the bench against the southpaw. Vierling is hitting eighth and Sosa is in the nine-hole. In 11 playoff games (four starts), Vierling has gone just 2-for-12 with a double, RBI, two runs scored and four strikeouts. Meanwhile, Sosa has also played in 11 games (three starts) and has gone 2-for-6 with a double, two RBI, two runs scored, a walk and three strikeouts. Any offensive production the Phillies get from these two will be gravy as they look to send the series to a deciding seventh game on Sunday.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Matt Vierling will start in center field and hit eighth in Game 2 of the World Series. Vierling and Brandon Marsh have formed a platoon in center this postseason, and that continues tonight as Vierling starts against lefty Framber Valdez. In 10 postseason at-bats, Vierling has two hits, four strikeouts, and no walks. He also has an RBI and two runs scored. Expect Marsh to factor in if a right-handed reliever comes in against the bottom of the order at some point tonight.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Matt Vierling hit the first home run of his Major League career in a win over the Pirates on Saturday. Vierling took Pirates starter Wil Crowe deep in the third inning and also singled and walked in the contest. More notably for fantasy, Vierling batted leadoff in this game which could increase his fantasy value heading into the last week of the season. Vierling posted double-digit walk rates in both Double-A and Triple-A this season and has a healthy .403 on-base percentage through 28 Big League games. He's scored nine runs and has stolen two bases thus far, so he could be a sneaky add in deeper fantasy leagues.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Matt Vierling went 1-for-3 on Monday night to raise his batting average to .341 through his first 48 plate appearances this season. Vierling now has five hits in his last four starts as he's done a nice job at first base in the absence of Rhys Hoskins (abdomen) who is out for the season. The 25-year-old rookie is yet to homer in the Big Leagues and he slugged just .359 in Triple-A this season, so he shouldn't be expected to put up big power numbers. He does, however, have two stolen bases and has been in the lineup most days for a Philly club that is still fighting for a postseason birth. The majority of fantasy players can leave Vierling on waivers, however, he's a name to know in deep leagues down the stretch.