DETROIT — Michael King knows that his best chance of staying in the rotation for the rest of this season banks on pitching well.

And pitching well as a starter for the rest of this season would make his best case as he tries to convince the Yankees he could be part of their rotation next season, too.

In both respects, the right-hander is off to a good start.

King tossed four scoreless innings in his longest outing in over two years, getting the Yankees off on the right foot as they beat the Tigers 4-2 on Tuesday night at Comerica Park.

Pitching on a full four days’ rest for the first time since the Yankees began to move him back into a starting role, King stretched out to 61 pitches and looked sharp throughout.

He scattered three singles and did not walk a batter while striking out five.

“I think he definitely has the weapons to do it,” manager Aaron Boone said of King starting long term. “It’s just a matter of transitioning and then, can he hold the stuff in extended outings? With what he’s been through now in his career and the confidence he’s gained as a pitcher in this league, [he has] a real good understanding of what he has and what he can use. I wouldn’t be surprised at anything he’s able to do.”

King thought his stuff held up well with the heavier workload on Tuesday.

“I felt great,” he said. “I think I came out of the gate a little too hot. I remember in the second inning, I realized my [velocity] was a little bit down. But every time I wanted to reach back for more, I felt like I could.”

With the Yankees (64-68) having shifted their attention to the future for the final month-plus of the season, allowing King to start every five days would seem like the logical decision.

He said he enjoyed his first time going through a normal five-day routine this season.

“It’s nice being on a five-day and knowing you have a full five days to game-plan for a team,” King said. “[You can] work on stuff in the bullpen instead of having to work on it while you’re out there.”

Plus, with rosters expanding on Friday, the Yankees can carry an extra bullpen arm to help make up for not having King available in relief the rest of the way.

On a day when the Yankees released Josh Donaldson and also put pending free agent Harrison Bader on irrevocable waivers — he still played in the game, going 0-for-4 with an error in center field — they went back to the long ball to win their second straight against the Tigers (59-73).

Gleyber Torres, Kyle Higashioka and Anthony Volpe all crushed solo home runs, helping to build a 4-0 lead that withstood Clay Holmes giving up a pair of runs in the ninth inning.

Piggybacking in relief of King, rookie right-hander Jhony Brito also turned in a solid outing, tossing 3 ¹/₃ shutout innings.

But King left the biggest impression, likely earning himself another start in five days.

“First and foremost, he’s confident,” Boone said. “He’s got a great disposition about him. Kind of has that starter look to him and way about him. And he’s done it most of his life. It’s just a matter of, does it translate over the long haul? He’s getting more and more opportunities and you gotta be excited about what you’re seeing.”