"Not again," A.J. Hinch said to Tigers pitching coach Chris Fetter. Just as the team's pitching staff is starting to get healthy, two more pitchers went down in Detroit's gutsy 7-2 win over the Rangers Monday night.
First, starter Matthew Boyd left the game with left elbow discomfort after facing just three batters. Reliever Will Vest followed him four batters later with right knee discomfort. The Tigers turned to four more relievers to hold down one of the best lineups in the majors over the next seven-plus innings, "but losing two guys that early was painful," said Hinch.
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It's especially troubling for Boyd, who missed most of last season rehabbing from flexor tendon surgery in his left arm in September of 2021. He grimaced after throwing his 15th pitch Monday night and the Tigers weren't taking any chances.
"We saw Boyd wince and kind of look uncomfortable and he took a long walk around the mound, so we went out there. He told us what was bothering him and we took him out of the game, chose for him not to throw a pitch to test it again," said Hinch.
Vest came in, touting a 2.83 ERA on the season, and struck out three of the next four hitters before it looked like "he turned his ankle," said Hinch, on his 17th pitch.
"He talked a little about his hammy and his calf. It sounds like somewhere in and around his knee by his calf. We’ll get them all checked out and see where it takes us, but tough night to navigate with all the pitching," said Hinch.
Tuesday will bring the return of Matt Manning, who's set to make his first start since suffering a foot injury in April. Tarik Skubal could make his season debut next week after undergoing flexor tendon surgery last August, and Eduardo Rodriguez could return the week after that from the finger injury he suffered in May. Together, they should give the Tigers' rotation a significant boost.
At precisely the right time.
"It’s natural to be frustrated when a lot of things start to spiral," said Hinch. "For me, in game, I go right to who’s up next and what we need to do to get out of the situation that we’re in. So I’ll go manager mode at that point. But then obviously sitting over there asking Fet, like, 'not again,' that’s the natural feeling and then you gotta pick yourself up and get back to the game.
"It’s frustrating, it’s disappointing for those guys that had to come out of the game, but the game goes on."
Mason Englert, Tyler Alexander, Jason Foley and Tyler Holton finished out the game for the Tigers while striking out 11 and allowing just one run, lowering the bullpen's ERA to 3.67 on the season -- seventh in MLB. Detroit's relievers have thrown the second most innings (106 2/3) in the majors this month, with an ERA of 3.29.
They came through on Tuesday when the Tigers needed them most.
"Hats off to the bullpen, again," said Hinch. "In a month where we’ve really used them a ton, tonight they were awesome."
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