KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Detroit Tigers placed shortstop Javier Báez on the 10-day injured list Saturday.
He has missed four games in a row due to his swollen right thumb and was already slated to miss his fifth game, Sunday’s series finale against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
The Tigers planned to re-evaluate Báez following Monday’s off day, but knowing he would likely miss the beginning of the New York Yankees series — Tuesday through Thursday — they sent him to the injured list, retroactive to Wednesday.
“The timing is really what it was,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said after Saturday’s 3-1 loss. “We could have done it tomorrow, but then he couldn’t come back till (next) Sunday. Timing-wise, the faster we did it, the faster we can get him back, if it’s as short-term as we think.”
Báez is eligible to return to the Tigers on April 23, for the second of three games against the Colorado Rockies at Comerica Park. The maximum an IL stint can be backdated is three days.
“The more he’s sore, the more it gives me pause to put him back in there,” Hinch said Saturday, before Báez went to the IL. “Takes one swing to blow this thing back up to where we were four, five days ago. It’s really tricky with thumbs.
“(Royals starter Kris) Bubic is going to throw a ton of cutters today, and I can put him out there and make everybody feel better on the front of the day, but one swing can take us back 10 days. That’s not a comforting feeling.”
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Báez initially jammed his thumb celebrating his Opening Day walk-off single against the Chicago White Sox, then he jammed his thumb again Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox and hasn’t played since.
The 29-year-old is hitting .316 (6-for-19) with one double, one home run, four RBIs, one walk and four strikeouts in five games. He signed a six-year, $140 million contract in December.
Casey Mize shows ‘good sign’ on Day 2
The Tigers put right-hander Casey Mize on the 10-day injured list Friday with a right elbow sprain. The initial diagnosis revealed a medial collateral ligament sprain in his elbow.
Mize felt elbow soreness when he woke up Friday morning.
“He’s not feeling as sore today as he was yesterday, which is a good sign,” Hinch said. “When you can match clinical with film, that’s pretty good. But I don’t know what that means for the next foreseeable seven to 10 days. He’ll start his treatment.”
The 24-year-old has already consulted with numerous doctors. In two starts this season, Mize has a 5.40 ERA with two walks and four strikeouts in 10 innings. He allowed two runs on six hits and two walks across five innings in Thursday’s start against the Royals.
Mize will miss at least one start.
“It’s frustrating for him because he worked so hard to be ready,” Hinch said. “He was one of the pitchers that gave us a regimented program on what he did during the lockout for the entire time. He’s very disciplined with his routine. For him to come up injured, it seems pretty unfair. He was the most prepared of any of our guys. Got a little unlucky.”
Michael Pineda coming
To fill Mize’s void, right-hander Michael Pineda is skipping Sunday’s scheduled start for Triple-A Toledo. He was supposed to make a final tune-up before entering the Tigers’ rotation.
Pineda is a likely candidate to start Wednesday, considering Mize was lined up to pitch that day against the Yankees.
The 33-year-old will throw a bullpen Monday to prepare.
The Tigers still need to add Pineda, who signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract in March, to the active roster. He had a 5.68 ERA with two walks and four strikeouts in two spring training-like outings for the Mud Hens.
Andrew Chafin’s bullpen
Left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin landed on the 10-day injured list April 6, retroactive to April 4, with a left groin strain. The 31-year-old tossed a 30-pitch bullpen Friday in Lakeland, Florida.
“He reported no issues,” Hinch said. “Now we got to get to a live batting practice, and then we’ll get him into a game. Very similar to spring training mode. … Once he conquers that, I’m anticipating an inning in A-ball for his first outing, then he’ll get to Triple-A. He will not be with us for the Yankees series.”
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