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Burch Smith Burch Smith Tagged with loss Friday
Sat, May 2, 2026, 8:43 AM
Smith (0-1) took the loss Friday, allowing one run on three hits in two innings of relief as the Tigers fell 5-4 to the Rangers. He struck out three.
Analysis: The veteran righty got the call in a high-leverage spot but couldn't seal the deal, giving up the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning on an Alejandro Osuna double as Texas broke a 4-4 tie. With Kenley Jansen struggling of late, Will Vest (undisclosed) not 100 percent and Kyle Finnegan having pitched the prior two days, manager A.J. Hinch's late-game options were limited Friday, but Smith has pitched well since being promoted from Triple-A Toledo to potentially be in the mix. Through 7.1 innings over four appearances, he's delivered a 2.45 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB. |
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Riley Greene Riley Greene Keeps raking Friday
Sat, May 2, 2026, 8:34 AM
Greene went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Rangers.
Analysis: Greene has been seeing the ball well lately, as he's slashing .364/.462/.614 over his last 12 games. He recorded a hit in all but two of those contests while also tallying six multi-hit efforts in that span. Overall, Greene is slashing .291/.394/.462 with four home runs, 19 RBI and 22 runs scored across 33 games, and he remains a very strong fantasy asset. |
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Jack Flaherty Jack Flaherty Struggles continue Friday
Sat, May 2, 2026, 8:29 AM
Flaherty allowed four runs on five hits across 3.2 innings and did not factor into the decision in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Rangers. He walked three and struck out four.
Analysis: For the third straight start, Flaherty failed to pitch at least four innings, and he has an ugly 10.00 ERA and 2.67 WHIP during the stretch. Overall, the righty has a 5.90 ERA and 1.79 WHIP, and he's already walked 25 batters across 29 innings this season. Flaherty should get the opportunity to work out of his funk, but he's hard to trust right now from a fantasy perspective. His next outing is scheduled for Wednesday against the Red Sox at home. |
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Will Vest Will Vest Nursing undisclosed injury
Fri, May 1, 2026, 3:47 PM
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Friday that Vest is "not at 100 percent" physically, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Analysis: Hinch declined to divulge any additional details, but Vest hasn't pitched since Sunday, and it's unclear if he's available out of the bullpen for Friday's game against the Rangers. Vest has made 13 appearances for Detroit in 2026, collecting a 6.17 ERA and 13:6 K:BB over 11.2 innings. |
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Justin Verlander Justin Verlander Still not ready for rehab games
Fri, May 1, 2026, 3:44 PM
Verlander (hip) is not yet asymptomatic, so he is not yet ready to begin a rehab assignment, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Analysis: Verlander will throw another bullpen session soon and seems to be trending in the right direction as he works his way back from left hip inflammation. However, the 43-year-old is still feeling some soreness, and until that goes away he will not be cleared to pitch in games. Verlander missed all of April, and there remains no timetable for his return. |
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Troy Melton Troy Melton Starting rehab assignment
Fri, May 1, 2026, 3:40 PM
Melton (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Lakeland this weekend, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Analysis: Melton has finally been cleared to pitch in games after going down with a right elbow strain back in February. The righty didn't pitch in spring training and is already on the 60-day injured list, so it will be a gradual buildup. The role Melton ultimately fills with the Tigers will depend on how he looks and feels on his rehab assignment and also what the team's need is once the hurler is deemed physically ready. |
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Zack Short Zack Short Traded to Tigers
Fri, May 1, 2026, 9:20 AM
The Tigers acquired Short from the Nationals on Friday in exchange for cash considerations, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Analysis: Short has been playing at Triple-A Rochester, where he's slashed .200/.292/.291 with one home run and an 8:17 BB:K over 21 games. He is not on the 40-man roster but will provide the Tigers with some experienced utility depth in his return to the organization after making his big-league debut with Detroit in 2021. |
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Zach McKinstry Zach McKinstry Begins rehab assignment
Fri, May 1, 2026, 8:40 AM
McKinstry (hip) went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Thursday in his first rehab game with Single-A Lakeland.
Analysis: McKinstry has been cleared for game action after missing the past two weeks with left hip/abdominal inflammation. He didn't play a full game Thursday, and the Tigers likely want him to do that before he's activated, but McKinstry could return to Detroit's active roster as soon as next week. |
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Kyle Finnegan Kyle Finnegan Logs first save
Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 2:50 PM
Finnegan earned the save in Thursday's 5-2 win over Atlanta, allowing a hit while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: After Kenley Jansen was charged with a blown save Wednesday, it was Finnegan who got the call in the ninth inning Thursday with the Tigers up by three. The right-hander worked around a one-out single to lock down his first save with Detroit. The 34-year-old Finnegan is off to a stellar start this season -- he's allowed just one run through his first 15.2 innings. While the veteran Jansen should have a fairly long leash as the Tigers' primary closer, Finnegan is certainly a name to watch should his struggles continue. |
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Framber Valdez Framber Valdez Sharp vs. Atlanta
Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 2:45 PM
Valdez didn't factor into the decision Thursday against Atlanta, allowing two runs on six hits and no walks over six innings. He struck out eight.
Analysis: It was a strong bounce-back effort from Valdez, who didn't issue any free passes after walking a season-high eight batters in his last outing against the Reds. Valdez has held opponents to two runs or fewer in six of his first seven starts with the Tigers. Overall, his ERA sits at 3.35 with a 1.26 WHIP and 32:14 K:BB across 40.1 innings. Valdez is currently lined up to face the Red Sox at home his next time out. |
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Thayron Liranzo Thayron Liranzo Back in action at Double-A
Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 10:15 AM
Liranzo (oblique) has gone 2-for-8 with two doubles and an RBI in two games since being reinstated from Double-A Erie's 7-day injured list Tuesday.
Analysis: Liranzo sustained a right oblique strain late in spring training and opened the season on the shelf, but he was cleared to make his 2026 debut for Erie this week after wrapping up a six-game rehab assignment in the Florida State League. The 22-year-old was added to the Tigers' 40-man roster over the winter, but he likely sits fourth on the organizational depth chart behind big-league catchers Dillon Dingler and Jake Rogers and Triple-A backstop Eduardo Valencia. |
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Tyler Owens Tyler Owens Healthy again at Double-A
Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 10:11 AM
Owens (hip) has yielded one earned run on two hits and one walk while striking out four batters across four innings in three appearances for Double-A Erie since being assigned to the affiliate April 21 after being activated from Triple-A Toledo's 7-day injured list.
Analysis: Owens attended big-league spring training with the Tigers but was brought along slowly in camp while working his way back from the arthroscopic right hip surgery he underwent last year. The right-hander opened the season on the shelf at Triple-A but was cleared to join the Tigers' Double-A affiliate after he made five rehab appearances in the Florida State League. |
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Wenceel Perez Wenceel Perez Out of Detroit lineup
Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 9:05 AM
Perez is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Atlanta.
Analysis: Perez has been playing fairly regularly between right and center field since he was recalled, but he'll take seat Thursday. Matt Vierling will occupy center field for Detroit in the series finale. |
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Dillon Dingler Dillon Dingler Sitting out Thursday
Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 9:03 AM
Dingler is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Atlanta.
Analysis: Dingler started at catcher in the first two games of the series, so he'll get a breather for Thursday's matinee. Jake Rogers is behind the dish and batting ninth as the Tigers try to avoid the sweep. |
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Tarik Skubal Tarik Skubal Fans seven in no-decision
Wed, Apr 29, 2026, 10:42 PM
Skubal allowed two runs on five hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over seven innings in a no-decision versus Atlanta on Wednesday.
Analysis: Skubal gave up a two-run home run to Ozzie Albies in the first inning, but the star southpaw settled down after that. That was just the second homer Skubal's given up all season, and it's just the third time in seven starts he's been tagged for multiple runs. Detroit's ace has a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 45:6 K:BB across 43.1 innings this season. He's lined up for a home start against the Red Sox early next week, which positions him for a potential two-start week. |
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Kenley Jansen Kenley Jansen Blows another save Wednesday
Wed, Apr 29, 2026, 9:23 PM
Jansen (0-2) allowed two runs on a hit and a walk while not retiring any batters to blow the save and take the loss Wednesday against Atlanta.
Analysis: Staked to a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jansen came unraveled quickly. He walked Ozzie Albies to start the frame, then served up a walkoff home run to Matt Olson. It was Jansen's second straight blown save opportunity and his third already this year in nine chances to go along with a 6.14 ERA. The veteran's impressive MLB track record suggests he'll be given some leeway in the closer role, though he has not been overly effective so far in his first season with the Tigers. |
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Riley Greene Riley Greene Homers in loss
Wed, Apr 29, 2026, 9:17 PM
Greene went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Atlanta.
Analysis: Detroit only had five hits as a team, and Greene's was easily the most impactful as it gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead at the time. The talented outfielder is starting to get his power stroke going with three home runs across his last six games. During that span, Greene has gone 8-for-23 overall with four RBI and four runs scored. On the season, he's now slashing .291/.391/.473, and he once again looks like Detroit's offensive engine. |
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Matt Vierling Matt Vierling Heading to bench Wednesday
Wed, Apr 29, 2026, 5:36 PM
Vierling is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: Vierling had started each of the last four games, going a collective 1-for-14 with a 3:1 BB:K. Though he'll hit the bench, Vierling's outlook for playing time appears to have improved with Javier Baez (ankle) landing on the injured list Wednesday. |
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Enmanuel De Jesus Enmanuel De Jesus Rejoins big-league bullpen
Wed, Apr 29, 2026, 3:40 PM
The Tigers recalled De Jesus from Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday.
Analysis: De Jesus was sent down one week ago following a particularly ugly relief appearance. He turned in two scoreless frames for Toledo after the demotion and will now get another chance with the big club. |
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Jace Jung Jace Jung Called up, drawing start Wednesday
Wed, Apr 29, 2026, 3:40 PM
The Tigers recalled Jung from Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday. He'll start at designated hitter and will bat ninth in Detroit's matchup with Atlanta.
Analysis: Though he'll be making his 2026 debut for Detroit in a non-defensive role, Jung will be an option for the Tigers at three infield spots (first base, second base and third base) while he's up with the big club. With Javier Baez (ankle) landing on the injured list in a corresponding move, the Tigers have an opening the everyday lineup, but it's not clear if Jung will be in line for regular starts or if Detroit will lean on a committee of players to replace Baez. Jung has struggled in his limited opportunities at the big-league level over the previous two seasons and gotten off to a so-so start to the campaign at Toledo, producing a .222/.358/.364 slash line and 103 wRC+ while striking out at 22.8 percent clip over 123 plate appearances. |
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