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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. Once activated, Melton looks like a good bet to claim a spot in the Detroit rotation. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Tarik Skubal Tarik Skubal Resumes mound work
Mon, May 18, 2026, 2:34 PM
Skubal (elbow) is slated to throw a bullpen session Monday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Skubal will throw off a mound for the second time since he had surgery May 6 to remove a loose body from his left elbow. The left-hander appears on pace to rejoin the Tigers rotation sometime in June if all continues to go well, though he still has numerous boxes he needs to check. Skubal posted a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 45:6 K:BB over 43.1 innings covering seven starts before getting hurt. |
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Sawyer Gipson-Long Sawyer Gipson-Long Moves past injury scarce
Mon, May 18, 2026, 1:43 PM
Gipson-Long (undisclosed) has given up six earned runs on 12 hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 5.1 innings across his last two starts with Triple-A Toledo.
Analysis: After Gipson-Long experiencing unspecified discomfort, Toledo scratched the right-hander from a scheduled start May 1, but he didn't require a trip to the injured list and slotted back into the rotation a week later. Gipson-Long has labored over his subsequent two starts, however, and now holds a 6.14 ERA and 1.64 WHIP across 22 innings at Triple-A for the season. Even while injuries are testing Detroit's rotation depth, Gipson-Long may not be viewed as a solution for the big club while he's struggled for Toledo. |
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Gage Workman Gage Workman Heading to bench Monday
Mon, May 18, 2026, 1:37 PM
Workman is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians.
Analysis: After starting in three of the Tigers' previous four games, Workman will retreat to the bench while Detroit opens up a spot in the infield for Zack Short, who will cover shortstop in the series opener. Since being called up from Triple-A Toledo on May 10, Workman is getting on base at a weak .227 clip but has made his five hits count, smacking two home runs and a pair of doubles while driving in five runs. |
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Troy Melton Troy Melton Aiming for four-inning rehab start
Mon, May 18, 2026, 12:46 PM
Melton (elbow) is expected to build up to four innings early this week in his fourth rehab start, which will come with Triple-A Toledo, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: In his third rehab start and first with Toledo this past Wednesday, Melton struck out three over two scoreless innings. During that outing, Melton built his pitch count up to 54 pitches (33 strikes) and sported a fastball that topped out at 98.7 miles per hour. Though Melton and Justin Verlander (hip) appear to be trending toward returns from the 60-day injured list around when they're first eligible to be activated in late May, the Tigers could have room in the rotation for both pitchers. Detroit already has a new opening after Ty Madden (forearm) was moved to the IL on Sunday, and ace Tarik Skubal (elbow) doesn't look on track to reclaim a spot until some point in June at the soonest. |
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Justin Verlander Justin Verlander Completes sim game
Mon, May 18, 2026, 12:38 PM
Verlander (hip) tossed a three-inning, 50-pitch simulated game Friday, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Rather than heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment, Verlander is seemingly electing to stay with the Tigers and build up his pitch count through a series of sim games as he works his way back from left hip inflammation, which sent him to the injured list back on April 4. Verlander reportedly displayed improvement with his pitch quality and velocity during Friday's throwing session and is set to throw a longer simulated game in the middle of this week. Verlander appears to be tracking toward a return from the 60-day IL around when he's first eligible May 31 or soon thereafter. |
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Jack Flaherty Jack Flaherty Still searching for win No. 1
Sun, May 17, 2026, 6:04 PM
Flaherty (0-5) took the loss Sunday against the Blue Jays, allowing four runs on five hits and no walks in six innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: Flaherty remained winless for the season, but there were at least some positive takeaways from Sunday's start. The right-hander gave up his four runs over his first three frames but settled in for three scoreless innings thereafter, and he also issued no free passes for the first time in 10 starts on the year. Flaherty will be aiming to grab his first win of 2026 next weekend in Baltimore, where he'll bring a poor 5.77 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 48:29 K:BB across 43.2 innings. |
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Spencer Torkelson Spencer Torkelson Tough May continues
Sun, May 17, 2026, 5:15 PM
Torkelson went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays and is batting just .135 this month.
Analysis: Torkelson wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire with his .228 batting average through the end of April, though he at least had a respectable .786 OPS. This month, however, has seen Torkelson's offensive production really fall off. His OPS is down to .496 in May, and the first baseman has already struck out 26 times in 15 contests during the month. Torkelson still offers plenty of power potential, but his prolonged slumps make him hard to trust from a fantasy perspective. |
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Ty Madden Ty Madden Headed for IL
Sun, May 17, 2026, 10:45 AM
The Tigers are placing Madden on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Saturday due to a bruised right forearm.
Analysis: Madden was injured Friday when he was hit by a comebacker. Subsequent X-rays were negative, but the right-hander is nonetheless going to need to take some time off. Reliever Will Vest (forearm) has been activated from the injured list in a corresponding roster move, though it's unclear who will take Madden's spot in the rotation. |
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Will Vest Will Vest Activated from injured list
Sun, May 17, 2026, 10:40 AM
The Tigers activated Vest (forearm) from the 15-day IL on Sunday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Vest will return after missing three weeks due to a forearm injury. He should immediately slot into a high-leverage role and will look to rebound from a rough start to the season, as he posted a 6.17 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 13 appearances before being sidelined. Ty Madden is headed to the IL due to a bruised forearm, clearing a spot on the 26-man roster for Vest. |
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