Javier Báez is going for testing on a right ankle injury, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters following tonight’s 5-2 loss in Atlanta (relayed by Chris McCosky of The Detroit News). The team will provide an update in the coming days, though Báez said postgame that he’s been able to put some pressure on his leg (via Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free-Press).
Báez suffered the ugly looking injury in the fifth inning. He hit what appeared to be a routine ground-ball to shortstop. Mauricio Dubón’s throw was high, leading Matt Olson to jump and pull himself off the first base bag. Báez made an impromptu decision to slide and try to avoid the tag. He slipped as he hit the base with his left foot, and his right ankle appeared to buckle underneath him as he went to the ground.
The three-time All-Star tried to hobble off the field with assistance from trainers but ultimately needed the cart. An injured list stint seems inevitable. The Tigers will await the test results before they have an idea how long he’ll be sidelined.
Báez was in the lineup in center field tonight. Wenceel Pérez came off the bench to play right field, as Matt Vierling kicked over from right to center. Báez has bounced between shortstop and center field — in addition to a start at second base on Saturday when Gleyber Torres got a breather.
That defensive flexibility is Báez’s biggest on-field asset for Detroit. They’re already shorthanded in center field with Parker Meadows out for a while after breaking his arm earlier this month. Vierling and Pérez can play center field but are better suited for corner spots. Neither player has hit much in the early going either. Báez’s lack of plate discipline limits his own offensive upside, but his .256/.280/.397 line is better than what Vierling and Pérez have mustered.
The Tigers have a more obvious replacement at shortstop. Kevin McGonigle has divided his time between shortstop and third base. Detroit has preferred Báez at shortstop with McGonigle at the hot corner behind ground-ball specialist Framber Valdez, but the rookie can handle an everyday shortstop role. That’d open more playing time for Colt Keith and Hao-Yu Lee at third. A Báez injured list stint would leave them without a backup shortstop, though, as Zach McKinstry and Trey Sweeney are both out already.
Báez wasn’t the only Detroit player to make an early exit tonight. Starter Casey Mize left in the third inning with right groin tightness. Mize generally downplayed his concern postgame but said he’ll go for an MRI tomorrow. The All-Star righty has been excellent through the first six rotation turns. He struggled a bit tonight but carries an overall 2.90 earned run average while striking out 27.3% of opponents.
Detroit’s top three of Tarik Skubal, Valdez and Mize have all pitched well. Keider Montero has stepped up nicely with Justin Verlander sidelined by hip inflammation. It has been a nightmare start to the season for Jack Flaherty, though.
The Tigers signed Drew Anderson to compete for a rotation spot. His early work in a long relief role has been inconsistent. Sawyer Gipson-Long and Ty Madden are on the 40-man roster and starting games with Triple-A Toledo. Either could get a look if Mize requires an injured list stint.
Troy Melton would have been in the mix if he were healthy. The righty pitched well in a multi-inning relief role in the second half. He entered camp battling for a rotation spot but was sidelined in Spring Training with elbow inflammation. The Tigers moved him to the 60-day injured list, so he’s still at least a month off.
Petzold wrote this evening that the Tigers are building Melton back up as a starting pitcher. He has thrown a few live batting practice sessions and will need an extended minor league rehab assignment to get his pitch count up. The Tigers might’ve been able to build him more quickly as a reliever, but it’s more valuable to have Melton as a rotation option for the final four months of the season.
They could still keep him stretched out in long relief if there’s no starting spot available once he’s healthy. Detroit’s bullpen again lacks swing-and-miss upside. Melton didn’t miss a ton of bats as a rookie but has a power arsenal and posted huge strikeout numbers in the minors.
Should test him right off the team. He stinks.
Javy plays a good cf and also hits better than meadows so there is that. Should we keep him no yet he is better in certain spots than others sounds like we should keep him at least for now
If Beaz goes on the DL it is time to bring up Clark to play CF. The problem is he’s not on the 40 man roster. If Baez goes on the 60 day DL then you can add Clark and bring him up. If Mize goes on the DL then you have a big problem on who you decide to bring up but there are choices.
Call me crazy but I don’t think either of them are going on the DL.
Ok, you’re crazy. I think both will hit the IL. Maybe Mize is a little less likely since he doesn’t go again for 5 days.
Mize 7-Day, Javy 15-Day maybe? Curious if they would actually call up Clark if there’s a spot available or go for another IF. Seems like right now they have enough bodies to cover the OF but could use some help covering SS if McGonigle needs a day off.
I think Verlander was close to returning and would replace Mize if needed. I think Montero was pitching so well so the Tigers gave Verlander some extra rehab time. Montero has pitched well and deserves to keep his spot in the rotation.
Jace Jung, and Ty Madden are the easy picks, as they are both healthy now. Who fills in for emergency s.s if Kevin goes down ? I guess we’ll find out. Tough night in Atlanta. GO TIGERS !
If Javy goes on the IL, it will be Gage Workman probably. He can play SS. If McKinstry gets back first maybe Workman goes down for Clark. But that’s two more guys to add to the 40 man.
I’m resigned to the notion that Troy Melton will get his UCL surgery either this year or next. “Elbow inflammation”. Guess what’s inflamed?
Groin pulls are tough on pitchers. Expect Mize out for at least a month.
Hopefully, Baez just has a horrible twisted ankle and not ligament damage. Again, expect at least a month.
Who replaces them?
With Jack Flaherty scuffing, the Tigers may need 2 starters. Verlander is waiting for hot weather. Maybe next week or two. Ty Madden is already on the 40-man. I won’t be surprised if he gets the call. Drew Sommers and Tyler Gipson-Long are also on the 40-man. None of the 3 are particularly dealing.
Drew Anderson might get a start. JMHO, but he pitched better in ST as a starter than reliever.
As for Javy, I like the Clark call up idea. Plays center. Lets Vierling move around and he plays a reasonable 3B. McGonigal stays at SS. Keith and Lee play 3rd and 2nd. Hope McKinstry comes back ASAP.
Interesting how Gage Workman is raking it in AAA, but he’s another LH’d bat and is not on the 40-man. Someone will have to go. Who?
McGonigal leads off. Clark slides into the 7-8-9 hole and helps flip the lineup.
Tigers are a heavy LH’d hitting team. How many lefties does everybody have to throw at them?
Clark: “Lemme grab my bling, and I’ll be right there”
Hinch: “What about your glove?”
Clark: “Oh yeah, that too.”
I’d go w/the more ready of SGL & Madden to fill in for Mize.
Trei Cruz would be the best choice to replace Javy IMO, as he’s probably the most capable defender available who can play both SS & CF comfortably. They need reliable defense at those positions more so than someone to try to carry the offense. Cruz is also a switch-hitter.