Javier Báez’s tough season continues, because the Tigers positioned the veteran shortstop on the 10-day injured record earlier than tonight’s recreation towards the Nationals. The position, which is retroactive to June 9, is because of lumbar backbone irritation. Ryan Kreidler is up from Triple-A Toledo to take the open energetic roster spot.
Báez informed the Detroit beat that he was headed to Florida for extra testing (hyperlink by way of Cody Stavenhagen of the Athletic). The Tigers haven’t offered a timeline for his return, although he’s anticipated to be out past the minimal stint. Báez has battled again discomfort relationship to Spring Coaching, which could possibly be a contributing issue to the worst efficiency of his profession.
The 2-time All-Star has solely hit one dwelling run over 196 plate appearances. He’s hitting .183/.209/.247 throughout 53 video games. Amongst hitters with 150+ journeys to the plate, solely Mickey Moniak has a decrease on-base share. Tim Anderson and Moniak are the one such hitters who’ve made much less of an influence impression. Báez has rated as a barely below-average defender over 451 2/3 innings at shortstop. The general manufacturing is properly beneath substitute degree.
Báez now carries a .223/.264/.344 slash line in 333 video games since signing a six-year, $140MM free agent contract with Detroit. Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris downplayed the probabilities of shifting on from Báez totally in an look on MLB Community late final month. That received’t must be a consideration whereas he’s on the injured record, however the Tigers clearly want significantly better manufacturing out of the place. Detroit is final in all three triple slash stats from their shortstops on the 12 months.
For now, that process will fall on Kreidler and Zach McKinstry. Supervisor A.J. Hinch indicated that duo will break up the shortstop reps whereas Báez is on the shelf. The lefty-hitting McKinstry and righty-swinging Kreidler will type one thing of a platoon, though Hinch indicated Kreidler received’t be fully shielded from right-handed pitching. With the Nats beginning lefty Mitchell Parker this night, Kreidler is within the lineup for his first MLB work of the season.
The UCLA product appeared in 37 large league contests between 2022-23. Kreidler didn’t hit a lot in that restricted look, handing over a .165/.220/.209 slash over 102 plate appearances. He owns a .242/.362/.448 mark with a lofty 27.1% strikeout price in components of 4 seasons with Toledo. McKinstry has hit .225/.296/.341 in 624 MLB plate appearances for the reason that Tigers acquired him from the Cubs simply earlier than the beginning of final season. He’s a profession .219/.284/.365 hitter versus right-handed pitching.
Whereas the Tigers are patching issues collectively on the infield, they appear to have dodged a bullet within the rotation. Jack Flaherty exited final week’s begin towards the Rangers after experiencing again tightness. He hasn’t pitched since then however appears on observe to keep away from the injured record. As famous by Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free-Press, Flaherty obtained an injection yesterday and is lined as much as take the ball throughout this weekend’s sequence towards the Astros. Signed to a one-year pillow contract over the winter, Flaherty is pitching at an All-Star degree. He owns a 3.22 ERA whereas placing out greater than a 3rd of his opponents over his first 12 begins.
