Detroit — Earlier in the season, manager AJ Hinch wouldn’t play his rookie outfielder Akil Baddoo against left-handed pitching — lefty vs. lefty with Baddoo, who hadn’t played in two years and not ever above High-A ball, was not in his or the team’s best interest at that point.
Then, as Baddoo progressed through the season, Hinch started giving him a few starts against lefties, usually batting him at the bottom of the order on those days. When Baddoo was going good at the plate, he’d challenge him by giving him more work against lefties, though he still tried to protect him against the especially nasty ones.