A spot has opened up in the Tigers' rotation. It remains to be seen for how long.
Spencer Turnbull, a potential Opening Day starter for Detroit, has been removed from camp due to COVID-19 protocols, A.J. Hinch revealed Friday.
"He’s unavailable at this point," Hinch said. "He’s not at the facility today and he won’t be here for the coming days due to the COVID protocols, by no wrongdoing of his own. He didn’t break protocol or anything like that. We’re adhering to the protocols that are put in front of us and he can’t come to the complex right now."
Turnbull was slated to start this weekend. Matt Manning will take his place Sunday against the Phillies. Hinch couldn't get into the details of Turnbull's absence other than to say it's concerning.
"I’m concerned any time a guy isn’t in camp with us and is going to be miss some time. So it's concerning, but it's reality with how we’re trying to have a safe spring training and keep our guys in camp healthy while others have to be away," he said.
It's March 19. Opening Day is 13 days away. If Turnbull's absence extends to the point that it removes him from the rotation to start the season, the biggest beneficiary could be Casey Mize. Right now, Mize is probably sixth in line for a rotation spot behind Turnbull, Matthew Boyd, Jose Urena, Julio Teheran and Tarik Skubal.
Other candidates to cover for Turnbull could be Daniel Norris, Tyler Alexander and Derek Holland. One who likely won't be in the mix is Michael Fulmer. The Tigers will try Fulmer out of the bullpen in his next appearance on the heels of two rocky starts amid his ongoing recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2019.
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"Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity," said Hinch. "For us to get him kickstarted, maybe it takes the burden off of being the starter that day. I met with him, we talked a long time about his journey from injuries to rehabbing last year in the big leagues. The Tigers had no other choice, but it was unfair to him to have to try to compete at this level while rehabbing a significant injury. For us, we want to give him a different look."