The Tigers placed right-hander Alex Faedo on the 15-day injured list this afternoon (retroactive to May 31) with right middle finger discomfort, the club announced. No corresponding move to replace Faedo on the roster has been announced. Earlier today, the club described the issue as tenderness in his right middle fingernail, noting that the young righty was receiving daily treatment for the issue. The move will keep Faedo out of the rotation for at least two weeks, though no timetable for his return has been announced.
The club’s first round pick in the 2018 draft, Faedo made his MLB debut last season, posting a 5.53 ERA and 4.62 FIP over twelve starts. With a strikeout rate of just 18% against a 10.2% walk rate, Faedo’s first foray into the big leagues left much to be desired, leaving him to start the 2023 campaign in Triple-A. Over five starts at the level, he impressed with a 2.50 ERA in 18 innings of work with a 27.9% strikeout rate and a 5.9% walk rate, earning himself a promotion back into the big league rotation at the beginning of May.
Through five starts in 2023, the results appeared to be more of the same on a surface level, with a 5.52 ERA and a 4.51 FIP in 26 innings of work. With that being said, underlying metrics indicate that Faedo may have taken a step forward prior to his injury. While his .232 BABIP this season is surely due for regression, the massive 17.6% rate at which Faedo’s fly balls leave the yard for home runs is likely due for regression of its own, as is his unbelievably low 44.9% strand rate. What’s more, Faedo’s strikeout and walk issues from 2022 seem to have been corrected so far in 2023, as Faedo has struck out a respectable 25.2% of batters faced while allowing just two walks total in his 26 innings of work.
Given the signs that better days may be ahead for Faedo, the Tigers are sure to miss his presence in a rotation that currently sports Matthew Boyd, Michael Lorenzen, Joey Wentz, and Reese Olson. Faedo joins Eduardo Rodriguez and Spencer Turnbull as starts who have gone on the IL in the past month for Detroit, leaving the club in need of another starter before Tuesday’s game against the Phillies. Garrett Hill is an option on the 40-man roster, but the 27-year-old righty has been used mostly out of the bullpen in 2023, having pitched more than three innings just once all season.
While both left-hander Tarik Skubal and right-hander Matt Manning are making progress rehabbing from their own injuries, neither seems particularly close to a return. Skubal is set to begin a rehab assignment with High-A West Michigan tomorrow, as noted by Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, but after undergoing surgery last August that has kept him from pitching competitively to this point, figures to need a relatively lengthy rehab start in order to prepare for his return to the major league mound. Manning, meanwhile, is not yet scheduled for a rehab assignment, indicating he could be behind Skubal in his rehab process.
One positive piece of injury news for Tigers fans comes from Riley Greene, who Chris McCosky of The Detroit News notes had his left fibula injury downgraded from a stress fracture to a stress reaction in Detroit’s recent medical report. While the news doesn’t change Greene’s expected timetable for return, it’s nonetheless a reassuring sign that his injury is less severe than originally thought.
A former consensus top-5 prospect in the entire sport, Greene has broken out in his sophomore campaign with a .296/.362/.443 slash line, excellent center field defense, and a perfect six-for-six record in stolen base attempts. The Tigers are relying on the recently-acquired Jake Marisnick in center field while Greene is on the shelf.
Just do bullpen starts in the fifth spot until Manning comes back. Tyler Alexander and Mason Englert can man the fort for 2 or 3 weeks.
Right middle finger discomfort.
That’s what you get for trying to be another Fidrych.
The Bird had knee surgery after his rookie year, rushed his comeback, and ended up with a series of arm issues. A wonky fingernail had nothing to do with it.
Referencing “‘the bird” finger.
Got it. I’m just slow on the uptake.
A stress reaction over a stress fracture…. Any idea on a time line for a stress reaction? Only 1 run in last two games. He is really missed.
The good news just keeps on coming
There’s the Tigers with Greene, and without. I guess there’s a reason why the Tigers can’t seem to do anything offensively with him out, even though it’s not really evident.. What is impressive is the way Lorenzen has been pitching. That’s a guy that would sure be nice to get on some long term deal.
This 10th inning in Chicago is in process. 2 men on no outs for Detroit. Lets see what happens here ! Well it’s up to the new guy Jake. Ground out to third, no runs scored in the tenth for Detroit.
The draft is getting closer every day, so there is that to look forward to.
An unbelievable ending in Chicago today. Yellow shoes Moncada scores on the wildest of passed balls, a head shot to the umpire. Somehow Hasse lost the high heat in the sun, and didn’t even move. ? Was it some form of protest for ball bat knob foul ball reviewed as a hit batter ? We’ll never know for sure.
You look at Chicago on paper, and it’s line up in real life, and it’s very scary. Yet, the game came down to that. It’s a bad division. Our hitters were as impotent as their vaunted line up of guys that can hit one out in the seats. I say sign up that Lorenzen though, as that guy save for his first game in Detroit’s uniform has been outstanding. He’s been a star, but we can’t get guys to score runs for him. Bring on the draft, and lets hope Greene comes back soon, he’s the energy this team needs.
Right? What a strange sleepy day. The catcher didn’t move and Yo scampered home. Surreal like the Aj game. Sweet hats
Lorenzens a keeper- man o man. Two games of utter dominance against the Chisox
Uggghhh. This us starting to turn into shades of last year with put her injuries mounting. We’re getting short on the “next man up.” Lorenzen has looked really good recently as MPrck said. Olson looked great yesterday too but one game doesn’t make a career obviously. I like “For Love of the Games” idea with Alexander and Englert. Both starters by trade and Alexander seems to do better as a starter. I’d like to see Englert as a starter too just to see what he can do in longer stints.
As soon as Faedo or Skubal returns, I think we should send Englert down to AAA to stretch him out as a starter and give his bullpen spot to Wisler. Seeing how injury-prone our starters are, we obviously don’t have nearly as much depth as we need.
Rule 5 pick. Can’t do that
Ah, that’s right. Forgot he was a rule 5.
With Rodriguez being out, and what would have been our best trade chip, I hope Lorenzen keeps pitching the way he has so we can trade him for something decent. Team is going nowhere as it is now. Curious if the Erod injury could end up making him decide to stay with the Tigers.
We need offense. St Louis or Baltimore would have made sense as a trade partner for Erod so maybe they still could for Lorenzen. Lots of good young hitters in their systems to build a deal around.
Lorenzen is a good candidate for an extension, and I’m sure that his agent and Harris have some idea of what his plans might be in free agency. Lorenzen signed with the Tigers specifically so that he could work with Chris Fedder in preparation for FA. If those are still his plans, flip him. If not the case for extending him is looking pretty strong.
I wouldn’t be opposed to extending him but don’t want to let him leave for nothing. Unfortunately there’s no other players who really appear tradeable at the moment. As short as our starting pitching is with injuries we also don’t have many spots available next year to sign anyone unless we plan on trading some of our young guys, which with the right gm I think we should do.
Englert is a Rule V pick so we can’t send him down or we’d lose him, otherwise I would agree with you.
Don’t put “meanwhile” in the middle of a sentence, Mr. Deeds. Start the sentence with it. Your writing is filled with lots of errors, like saying Rob Refsnyder was drafted in 2005 and immediately saying afterward he debuted in 2005. Be better.
Time to start rotating out the last couple spots on the roster. Hinch couldn’t even pinch hit yesterday with only Ibanez,rogers , nevin and miggy. And haase should never catch another game.
We still have a bat, a couple relievers, a starter or two and Hinch to trade.
What do you think SD will give us for Hinch? I have a hunch…. are we allowed to trade the Beamer?
Why not? It’s a trade piece and does appear Mr. Illich. HAS left his eggs all in one basket….otherwise we would have a GM to trade too….but some people DO NOT keep their promises…….