DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers have optioned outfielder Daz Cameron to Triple-A Toledo to create a spot for the return of left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd, who will start Sunday’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Boyd has been on the injured list since June 15 with left arm discomfort.
Cameron, 24, spent six weeks on the IL before rejoining the big-league club nine days ago. Overall he’s hit .177 with a .577 OPS in 85 plate appearances this year. He’s 2-for-21 since returning from the IL, although both hits are doubles.
With Cameron’s departure, the Tigers now return to a three-man bench and a four-man outfield of Robbie Grossman, Akil Baddoo, Derek Hill and Victor Reyes.
“We’ll take at least a 10-day period here to get (Cameron’s) swing going in the right direction,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He needs to play every day — something he’s not doing right now. And then hopefully at some point between now and the end of the season, he gets more time up in the big leagues.”
Reyes, who might have also been a candidate to be sent down, has an .841 OPS in 72 plate appearances since he rejoined the club in a bench role in mid-July.
He also had the first go-ahead, pinch-hit, inside-the-park home run in modern baseball history on Friday.
TIGERS’ 40-MAN ROSTER (37)
Players in bold are on the 26-man active roster.
Left-handed pitchers (7): Tyler Alexander, Matthew Boyd, Miguel Del Pozo, Derek Holland, Tarik Skubal, Gregory Soto, Joey Wentz.
Right-handed pitchers (13): Jose Cisnero, Alex Faedo**, Jason Foley, Michael Fulmer, Kyle Funkhouser, Bryan Garcia, Joe Jimenez, Alex Lange, Matt Manning, Casey Mize, Wily Peralta*, Nivaldo Rodriguez, Jose Ureña.
Catchers (3): Dustin Garneau, Grayson Greiner, Eric Haase.
Infielders (8): Miguel Cabrera, Jeimer Candelario, Harold Castro, Willi Castro, Niko Goodrum*, Isaac Paredes, Jonathan Schoop, Zack Short.
Outfielders (6): Akil Baddoo, Daz Cameron, Robbie Grossman, Derek Hill, Victor Reyes, Jacob Robson.
* on the 10-day Major League injured list
** on the 7-day minor-league injured list
Catcher Jake Rogers (right arm soreness); and right-handed pitchers Julio Teheran (right shoulder strain), Rony Garcia (knee) and Spencer Turnbull (right forearm strain) are on the 60-day injured list, which removes them from the 40-man roster.
