| News |
|---|
|
Zach McKinstry Zach McKinstry Collects two hits Wednesday
Wed, May 20, 2026, 9:57 PM
McKinstry went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Wednesday's 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Guardians.
Analysis: McKinstry was the only Detroit player with multiple hits, and it was his first time doing so since all the way back on April 4. It's been a struggle offensively for the veteran utility player, who is batting just .186 with a .503 OPS this season. McKinstry was much better during the 2025 regular season with a .259 average and .771 OPS, but he has career marks of just .229 and .671, respectively, and 2026 has seen regression set in. |
|
Will Vest Will Vest Blows save Wednesday
Wed, May 20, 2026, 9:51 PM
Vest allowed a run on two hits across an inning of work and was charged with a blown save in Wednesday's 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Guardians. He struck out one.
Analysis: The Tigers decided to use regular closer Kenley Jansen in the eighth inning against the top of Cleveland's lineup to protect a 1-0 lead. That left the ninth for Vest, and the veteran allowed the lead to slip away on a pair of hits and an RBI groundout. Vest has struggled this year with a 5.93 ERA across 13.2 innings, which should leave no doubt that Jensen is ahead of him in the bullpen pecking order moving forward. |
|
Drew Anderson Drew Anderson Sharp in first start
Wed, May 20, 2026, 8:43 PM
Anderson didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Guardians, allowing two hits and two walks over 4.2 scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: Making his first start of the season, Anderson was limited to 63 pitches, but he certainly made the most of them, blanking the Guardians while logging a career-high seven strikeouts. After giving up 10 runs in his first 11.1 innings this year, Anderson has posted a sparkling 1.77 ERA over his last nine appearances (20.1 innings). The 32-year-old Anderson certainly seems to have earned another look in Detroit's rotation after Wednesday's outing -- he'd currently line up for a home matchup with the Angels. |
|
Justin Verlander Justin Verlander Builds up to four innings
Wed, May 20, 2026, 6:37 PM
Verlander (hip) completed a four-inning, 62-pitch simulated game Wednesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: In lieu of a rehab assignment, Verlander has remained with the Tigers and has been getting gradually stretched back out through simulated games. The 43-year-old righty has needed more time than expected to recover from left hip inflammation, but he may need to complete just one more sim game before Detroit brings him back from the 60-day injured list around when he's first eligible at the beginning of June. According to Beck, Verlander's fastball velocity sat around 92-to-93 miles per hour during Wednesday's throwing session, putting him a tick or two behind his average velocity during his time with the Giants in the 2025 season. |
|
Gleyber Torres Gleyber Torres Still unable to swing at full speed
Wed, May 20, 2026, 3:26 PM
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday that Torres (oblique) is still unable to swing a bat at full effort, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Analysis: Torres' left oblique strain no longer gives him any trouble during fielding drills, but the second baseman won't be sent out on a rehab assignment until he can swing a bat at full speed without discomfort. He should be in line for a quick turnaround once he clears that hurdle, but for now, Torres is in a holding pattern in his recovery. |
|
Wenceel Perez Wenceel Perez Exiting starting lineup
Wed, May 20, 2026, 1:57 PM
Perez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Guardians.
Analysis: Perez will begin the contest on the bench after starting each of the last four games. Zach McKinstry will draw the start in right field for the Tigers. |
|
Spencer Torkelson Spencer Torkelson Getting rare day off
Wed, May 20, 2026, 1:54 PM
Torkelson is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Guardians.
Analysis: Torkelson homered in Tuesday's loss to Cleveland, but he's struggled in May with a .136/.235/.288 batting line and 42.6 percent strikeout rate. Colt Keith will cover first base for the Tigers while Torkelson regroups. |
|
Jackson Jobe Jackson Jobe Throws bullpen session
Wed, May 20, 2026, 12:35 PM
Jobe (elbow) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Jobe continues to progress in his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last June. The 23-year-old isn't expected to be back with Detroit until late this season or the start of 2027, but he's avoided setbacks thus far as he builds up his throwing program. |
|
Drew Anderson Drew Anderson Confirmed for start Wednesday
Wed, May 20, 2026, 10:49 AM
Anderson will be the Tigers' starting pitcher in Wednesday's game versus the Guardians, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Analysis: Anderson will be making his first start at the major-league level since Aug. 7, 2021. The 32-year-old has offered a mixed bad in a long-relief role this season, posting a bloated 4.67 ERA but with a 31:12 K:BB across 27 frames. Anderson went four innings and threw 46 pitches in his last outing, so he'll be in line for a limited workload against the Guardians. Though Anderson could earn additional turns through the rotation if he performs well Wednesday, Troy Melton (elbow) could be ready to return from the 60-day injured list the next time Detroit requires a fifth starter. |
|
Troy Melton Troy Melton Dazzles in latest rehab start
Wed, May 20, 2026, 9:50 AM
Melton (elbow) struck out six and allowed one earned run on two hits and no walks over five innings Tuesday in his rehab start with Single-A Lakeland.
Analysis: Melton remained in dominant form as he continues to work his way back from the right elbow strain that has kept him on the shelf all season. While building up to 63 pitches in Tuesday's outing, Melton generated 12 whiffs on 37 strikes and sported a fastball that sat around 96.5 miles per hour. He's now posted a 1.54 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 16:2 K:BB in 11.2 innings across four rehab starts, three of which have come with Lakeland. The right-hander will be eligible to return from the 60-day injured list Sunday, but the Tigers may want to see him extend his pitch count to the 70-to-80 range over one more start in the minors before reinstating him. Melton looks like a good bet to claim a spot in the Detroit rotation upon activation. |
|
Javier Baez Javier Baez Ramping up in Florida
Wed, May 20, 2026, 9:04 AM
Baez (ankle) has been conducting his rehab at the Tigers' spring training facility in Florida and is taking part in full baseball activities, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Analysis: The Tigers haven't issued a definitive target date for Baez's return from the 10-day injured list, but he could soon be ready to head out on a rehab assignment or take part in simulated games as part of his ramp-up process. Before hitting the shelf April 29 due to a right ankle sprain, Baez had been splitting time between shortstop and center field this season and slashed .256/.280/.397 over 82 plate appearances. While Baez's offensive production wasn't anything special, the Tigers still have multiple weak spots in their lineup, so the 33-year-old may have a path to a near-everyday role once he returns. |
|
Ty Madden Ty Madden Ready for bullpen session
Wed, May 20, 2026, 8:58 AM
Madden (forearm) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Analysis: Though the Tigers deactivated Madden on Sunday due to a forearm injury, he's merely dealing with a bruise rather than a muscle strain or ligament damage and should be in line for a relatively short stint on the 15-day injured list. Assuming he makes it through Wednesday's throwing session no worse for the wear, Madden could be cleared to resume facing hitters this weekend or early next week. |
|
Gleyber Torres Gleyber Torres Rehab assignment delayed
Wed, May 20, 2026, 8:54 AM
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Torres (oblique) is "still day-to-day" and "not ready" to begin a minor-league rehab assignment, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Analysis: Though Hinch had expressed optimism in recent days that Torres was closing in on a return to game action, the Tigers apparently still want the veteran infielder to complete some more workouts before sending him out on an assignment. Torres doesn't seem to be dealing with any sort of setback in his recovery from a left oblique strain, as he was spotted on the field at Comerica Park on Tuesday going through an assortment of defensive drills in addition to some light hitting and running. Zach McKinstry and Hao-Yu Lee are likely to work in a platoon at second base until Torres is ready to return from the injured list. |
|
Keider Montero Keider Montero Comes away with no-decision Tuesday
Wed, May 20, 2026, 7:46 AM
Montero didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Guardians, giving up three runs on two hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out one.
Analysis: The right-hander wasn't really fooling anyone Tuesday, as he managed only six swinging strikes among his 85 pitches (53 total strikes), but most of the contact Montero allowed found its way into Detroit gloves aside from a Travis Bazzana two-run homer in the fourth inning. Montero hasn't struck out more than five batters in any of his last five starts while serving up six total long balls, managing a 3.95 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 14:11 K:BB in 27.1 innings over that stretch. He'll try to keep walking that high wire in his next trip to the mound, which is set to come on the road this weekend in Baltimore. |
|
Riley Greene Riley Greene Scores twice in loss
Tue, May 19, 2026, 8:26 PM
Greene went 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Guardians.
Analysis: Greene continued his torrid offensive pace with another multi-hit effort, which was his seventh over his last 12 games. The talented 25-year-old is third in the majors with a .335 batting average and his .433 on-base percentage is the best in baseball. About the only blemish on Greene's ledger right now is his lack of power with only four home runs, but he's otherwise been a force for the Tigers. |
|
Spencer Torkelson Spencer Torkelson Snaps slump with homer Tuesday
Tue, May 19, 2026, 8:20 PM
Torkelson went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Guardians.
Analysis: Torkelson started the scoring for Detroit in the second inning with his seventh home run of the season. It was his first long ball since May 3, and in 13 games since then, he was mired in an ugly 5-for-46 slump with 23 strikeouts before Tuesday's bomb. It was a small step in the right direction for Torkelson, though he was lifted for a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, and he'll need to stay out of another rough patch to hold onto consistent playing time. |
|
Framber Valdez Framber Valdez Struggles to find plate in loss
Mon, May 18, 2026, 10:18 PM
Valdez (2-3) took the loss Monday against the Guardians, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks in five innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: The 32-year-old left-hander was mostly ineffective Monday, inducing just four whiffs while falling one walk short of his season worst. Valdez has been a boom-or-bust fantasy player so far in 2026, as he's given up two runs or fewer in seven starts while yielding at least four in the other three. He'll be searching for some consistency during his next scheduled outing in Baltimore, where Valdez will carry a lackluster 4.58 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 45:21 K:BB over 55 innings. |
|
Troy Melton Troy Melton Moving rehab to Single-A
Mon, May 18, 2026, 9:30 PM
Melton is slated to make the fourth start of his rehab assignment Tuesday with Single-A Lakeland, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: After tossing two innings and 54 pitches in his most recent rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Toledo, Melton will shift his assignment back to the Florida State League, where he made his first two appearances. Weather was a factor in the decision to shift Melton's rehab from Toledo to Lakeland, and the change shouldn't be a factor in the right-hander's eventual return from the 60-day injured list. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Melton is being targeted for four innings and 65-to-75 pitches during Monday's outing, so the 25-year-old may require one more rehab start after that before being activated and potentially slotting into the Detroit rotation. |
|
Kerry Carpenter Kerry Carpenter Eyeing abbreviated stint on shelf
Mon, May 18, 2026, 9:24 PM
Carpenter (shoulder) has been doing light running and throwing since landing on the 10-day injured list and expects to resume swinging a bat this week, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Analysis: Carpenter previously missed six weeks during the 2023 season after spraining the AC joint of his right shoulder, but he appears to be trending toward a much quicker return after suffering the same injury to his left shoulder May 9, when he slammed into the outfield wall in a game against the Royals. Once he completes a full hitting progression, Carpenter said that he expects to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment before coming off the IL. |
|
Matt Vierling Matt Vierling Homers again Monday
Mon, May 18, 2026, 9:20 PM
Vierling went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's 8-2 loss to the Guardians.
Analysis: Vierling is now up to four home runs this season, with two of those long balls coming in the last three days. The veteran is seeing an uptick in playing time in center field with Parker Meadows (arm) and Javier Baez (ankle) both on the injured list. Vierling has yet to truly get going with a .211 batting average and .676 OPS, though his recent stretch offers some glimmer of optimism, and he should continue to be a lineup regular with his two teammates on the shelf. |
Connect With Us:
