Will Detroit Tigers run away with AL Central?
The Days of Roar podcast breaks down the competition the Detroit Tigers face in the AL Central. Can the Tigers maintain first place in the division?
Three Detroit Tigers players (Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez, and Matt Vierling) were sent to Low-A Lakeland for two games due to weather concerns in Toledo.The trio is on rehab assignments and are expected to return to Triple-A Toledo soon.Casey Mize is expected to return from the injured list for the Tigers’ game on May 24.
The Detroit Tigers sent three MLB players — center fielder Parker Meadows, outfielder Wenceel Pérez and outfielder/third baseman Matt Vierling — down to one of the lowest levels of the minor leagues for a couple of games.
Soon, they’ll be in the big leagues.
For now, though, they’re all playing for the Flying Tigers in Low-A Lakeland.
“We had a tough call with the weather,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said May 22, the day after sending the three rehabbing players to Lakeland, Florida. “The worst thing was no game at all, so not knowing what the weather forecast was going to be, we made a call and sent them all down.”
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Meadows (right arm nerve injury), Pérez (lumbar spine inflammation) and Vierling (right shoulder injury) couldn’t play May 20 for Triple-A Toledo as part of their rehab assignments because the Mud Hens’ game was rained out. With more rain May 21, the Tigers traveled them to the Sunshine State — guaranteeing they would play.
That’s where the trio has been for the past two days.
On May 21, Pérez started in right field, Meadows started at designated hitter and Vierling started at third base. On May 22, Pérez started at designated hitter, Meadows started in center field and Vierling started at third base.
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In both games, top prospect Bryce Rainer — whom the Tigers selected with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 draft — started at shortstop. More notably, the 19-year-old batted cleanup behind the three big leaguers.
Rainer is hitting .256 with three home runs, 17 walks and 23 strikeouts in 26 games for Lakeland in the first season of his professional career.
Meadows, Pérez and Vierling will return to Triple-A Toledo to continue their rehab assignments on May 23, though they won’t play again until May 24.
Vierling will rejoin the Tigers before the end of their four-game series against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park, making his 2025 season debut. After Vierling, Pérez is scheduled to return next, followed by Meadows.
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Casey Mize’s to-do list? ‘Two sleeps’
The Tigers set three of four starters against the Guardians: Jack Flaherty on May 22, Jackson Jobe on May 23, a to-be determined pitcher on May 24 and Tarik Skubal on May 25.
Right-hander Casey Mize — sidelined with a left hamstring strain — is eligible to start May 24 in his return from the 15-day injured list, but nothing is official yet.
“We haven’t had specific conversations about that,” Mize said, “but things are going good.”
The 28-year-old threw a simulated game May 19 that lasted five innings and roughly 70 pitches, allowing him to avoid a rehab assignment and return for the third of four games against the Guardians. He had the flu at some point during the past week.
“It was rough,” Mize said. “But I’m good now.”
Hinch cleared up any uncertainty about Mize’s status.
“Maybe just some sleep,” Hinch said, when asked if Mize had any other tests to pass before returning to the Tigers. “I’m still not ready to announce the Saturday starter yet, but hopefully, that’s open for him if he can make it.”
Hinch paused, then smiled.
“Two sleeps,” he said.
Reese Olson talks injury
Right-hander Reese Olson was placed on the 15-day injured list May 19, retroactive to May 18, with right ring finger inflammation. The 25-year-old played catch May 22 for the first time since being diagnosed with the injury.
“I think it was just a weird one-off thing,” Olson said.
Doctors confirmed Olson doesn’t have any ligament damage.
Olson is eligible to return from the injured list June 2 for the opener of a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, where he made his MLB debut in 2023.
“I think it’ll be a pretty short stint for me, if all goes well,” Olson said.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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