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.