Tuesday, June 09

Welcome to this edition of the Tigers Beat newsletter.

DETROIT -- The Tigers have just about weathered their storm of pitching injuries that decimated their rotation. Now comes the flip side: Getting those injured pitchers back into the mix.

Finally, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. But it could be the rear lights of the traffic jam ahead.

The Tigers are currently using a four-man rotation thanks to off-days yesterday and Thursday. By this time next week, they could have seven capable starters, requiring some difficult decisions … maybe tempered by a little creativity.

The rest of the homestand is clear: Troy Melton, Framber Valdez and Keider Montero will start against the Twins. Melton, making his fourth start since returning from the injured list, will pitch on an extra day’s rest, while Valdez and Montero will pitch on the standard four days' rest.

The weekend series in Cleveland is when help should arrive. That’s fitting, since it’s a critical series for any chance of getting back into the AL Central race.

The Tigers have had this series as a potential return point for Tarik Skubal ever since they mapped out his throwing routine following surgery a month ago to remove a loose body from his left elbow. Skubal’s five-inning rehab start Sunday for High-A West Michigan put him on schedule to potentially pitch Friday on regular rest if he feels fine with no issues. If the Tigers want to give him an extra day, as they did for the rehab start as well as his simulated game last week, they could start him on Saturday. Jack Flaherty, who started in Sunday’s win over the Mariners, can start Friday or Saturday.

This Sunday’s series finale presents another potential return. Casey Mize, sidelined nearly two weeks with right groin tightness, is scheduled to make a rehab start for Single-A Lakeland on Tuesday. If that goes well and Mize feels fine, he could be on turn for Sunday. If not, the Tigers could start Melton on regular rest, something he has done twice already this season.

Mize has a 2.93 ERA and .215 batting average allowed in five regular-season meetings against the Guardians, and he threw three effective innings during the 2025 AL Wild Card Series. Melton tossed 3 2/3 frames of one-run ball in Cleveland in the final week of the 2025 regular season before allowing four runs in Game 2 of their Wild Card Series.

The decisions get tougher once the Tigers head to Houston next week for three games against the Astros. Justin Verlander, scheduled for a second rehab start for Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday, could pitch in that series if Detroit decides he’s ready. So could Melton or Mize, whoever doesn’t pitch Sunday in Cleveland. Valdez would also be in line for that series, making his return to Houston. And don’t forget about Montero.

This is where manager A.J. Hinch could get creative.

The Tigers have bucked the trend of a six-man rotation this season. But with Tuesday beginning a stretch of 23 games in 24 days, and with multiple starters just returning, this could be the opportunity. 

“When you have those long stretches, I think you can look into that as a viable option to keep your starters fresh,” Hinch said, “which allows you to push them a little bit more, a little bit deeper into the game. And then having a versatile 'pen the way we built it, I think it’s an advantage to consider that.”

That still leaves one pitcher out. Melton and Montero have had success in relief, and Detroit’s bullpen could use the help. But the Tigers have been consistent with using Melton as a starter this year, and his work in the past couple of weeks has backed them up. Montero has had some excellent starts, albeit alternating with some middling outings over the past few weeks. 

If the Tigers don’t want to turn a starter into a traditional reliever, perhaps they could go with a piggyback start like Seattle did with Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo until last weekend.

“I think we have to be open to a lot of things,” Hinch said. “I’m just looking forward to having the dilemma.”

Triple-A Toledo: The Mud Hens (30-32) are home for six games against the St. Paul Saints, the Twins’ top affiliate, after Toledo took four of five on the road from the Iowa Cubs. Top prospect Max Clark homered in back-to-back games and reached safely seven times in four games to go with four runs scored and three RBIs. No. 4 prospect Max Anderson had four hits, including a two-run homer, and four RBIs in last Tuesday’s opener on his way to a 7-for-23 series.

Double-A Erie: The SeaWolves (28-29) will become the Flagship City Kitties on Friday and Saturday as part of a six-game homestand against Akron beginning Tuesday night at UPMC Park. No. 18 prospect Izaac Pacheco hit a go-ahead two-run drive, his ninth homer of the year, with two outs in the ninth Sunday to help Erie salvage a six-game series split at Richmond with a 6-3 win. No. 13 prospect John Peck went 7-for-22 for the series with his 10th home run of the season, three doubles, four RBIs and six runs scored. No. 28 prospect Brett Callahan went 8-for-21 with two homers and seven RBIs, raising his OPS to .872.

High-A West Michigan: The Whitecaps (20-37) hit the road on a three-game winning streak, having rallied for a series win over Reds-affiliated Dayton. No. 25 prospect Jackson Strong has homered in three straight games, going 5-for-14 with six RBIs. No. 2 prospect Bryce Rainer was 5-for-17 for the week with a home run, four RBIs, four walks and five runs scored.

Single-A Lakeland: The Flying Tigers (27-29) are in Clearwater this week after a 2-4 homestand against Fort Myers. Charlie Christensen, a 15th-round Draft pick last year out of Central Arkansas, tossed four scoreless innings on one hit with eight strikeouts in Sunday’s 5-3 win, lowering his ERA to 1.38. Edian Espinal, a 10th-round Draft pick last year out of UCF, went 4-for-13 in four games for the week with four stolen bases, four RBIs and four runs scored, and is batting .321 with an .891 OPS for the season.

As part of their 125th anniversary celebration, the Tigers have a special ticket package for Thursday’s 1:10 p.m. ET matinee against the Twins that includes a limited-edition replica mini-statue of Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg. For more information or to buy tickets, visit tigers.com/tickets.

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