Thursday, July 31

DETROIT -- The Tigers have been seeking the big hit for much of the last few weeks as Detroit struggles through its first legitimate slump of the season. The man behind many of their biggest hits from last season, meanwhile, is trying to work his way back into the lineup.

With Kerry Carpenter on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo and getting his ailing right hamstring back into game shape, help could be on the way in the coming days.

“He’s doing well,” manager A.J. Hinch said of Carpenter, who had Thursday off after playing as the designated hitter for the Mud Hens on Tuesday before starting in right field on Wednesday. “It’s funny what baseball does to you when you have time off, whether it’s calibrating [your] body, mind, eyes. Just getting back into the swing of things is important for him.”

The Tigers have been deliberate in their rehab work with Carpenter, who went 1-for-7 with a single through his first two games for the Mud Hens. There’s good reason behind their caution. Carpenter missed a day or two with hamstring issues in May, had a three-homer game on June 2, then struggled through the next few weeks. He seemed back to normal with three homers in a five-game stretch when he aggravated his hamstring trying to leg out a triple on June 29.

The Tigers want to make sure his hamstring is no longer an issue when he returns. They also want to give him every chance to come back swinging like he’s capable of.

“Specifically with Kerry, the timing mechanism at the plate is going to be really important,” Hinch said. “He’s physically cleared to do everything. He’s running fine. … He’ll be back in the outfield [Friday], kind of building his tolerance and his timing mechanism.”

Carpenter is expected to remain on assignment into the weekend, hopefully building towards a full game in the field. As much as the Tigers could use him in the lineup against a formidable trio of Blue Jays right-handed starters in José Berríos, Kevin Gausman and Max Scherzer, they need Carpenter back at full strength and ready for the stretch run, particularly with an equally important home series against the Diamondbacks starting Monday.

Once Carpenter returns, the lineup will begin to take a familiar shape. Carpenter will mix in at DH and both right and left field to allow Riley Greene to get a day here and there at DH. Zach McKinstry can look into more time on the left side of the infield, and Matt Vierling can move around from the outfield corners to some center field and third base.

Jake Rogers has thrown five knuckleballs over his three pitching appearances this season, including three on Thursday per Statcast. Who was the last Tiger to throw that many knuckleballs in a season? (Hint: He was also a position player)

A. Harold Castro

B. Don Kelly

C. Andrew Romine

D. Danny Worth

The Tigers will honor longtime clubhouse manager Jim Schmakel on Friday, Aug. 8, before their series opener against the Angels. Schmakel, who spent 47 years in the Tigers’ organization before starting a new chapter in his life this season, will be recognized with several guests and Tigers figures to help celebrate his incredible career.

Schmakel joined the Tigers’ clubhouse crew in 1978 after a decade with Triple-A Toledo. He began his baseball career in 1966 as a bat boy for the Mud Hens, then spent seven years managing their home clubhouse and three more on the visitors’ side. He was also an educator and coach for several of those years at Toledo’s Central Catholic High School, where he eventually became Dean of Boys.

Schmakel joined the Tigers as home clubhouse manager when they were still in the cramped quarters of Tiger Stadium. From there, he became a fixture of the franchise for many in the organization. He handled the clubhouse under more than a dozen Tigers managers, including Hall of Famers Sparky Anderson and Jim Leyland. Tiger players who benefited from Schmakel’s care included Cecil Fielder and later his son, Prince.

“One of the great guys, well-known guys in the game by so many players and managers and coaches,” said Leyland, a fellow Toledo native who has known Schmakel for over 50 years and is expected to attend the festivities. “Just a tremendous, tremendous, loyal person. We had an absolutely tremendous relationship. Just the utmost respect in the world for him. He was a hard worker and relentless.”

Thursday’s series opener against the Blue Jays marked the opening night for the Tigers’ Priority Club at Comerica Park. The members-only space features a full-service bar, food service stations with curated menus that change with each game, gathering areas, merchandise areas featuring items from Shinola Detroit, Greyson Clothiers and more, plus many other amenities.

The space design includes a grand staircase, industrial windows, architectural arches and more in homage to Detroit’s rich history. Historic Tigers memorabilia celebrates the club’s role in the city’s story.

The Priority Club space provides direct access to the new state-of-the-art, climate-controlled seats behind home plate.

D. Worth

Worth, a utility infielder and former second-round Draft pick, threw 34 knuckleballs out of 36 total pitches across two appearances in 2014, according to Statcast. He currently works in player development for the Padres.

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