The Tigers' push toward .500 hit two potentially major obstacles Tuesday.
Hours after ace Eduardo Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day IL with a left index finger injury, center fielder Riley Greene left the Tigers' loss to the Rangers with what the club deemed "left lower leg discomfort."
A.J. Hinch said Greene reported pain in his lower left leg in the first inning, but fought to stay in the game. Hinch chose to remove him two innings later once he saw Greene "moving around with a little gimp" and grimacing after running down a ball in center.
"I didn’t like the way that looked, so I just took him out of the game. He’s going to get his scans and we’ll have more information as we go, but I don’t know what it is. Riley was fighting to stay in the game, that’s a good sign, but the way he was moving around meant he needed to come out of the game," said Hinch.
The 22-year-old Greene has been the Tigers' best position player this season with a 1.5 WAR and entered Tuesday leading the American League with a .368 average in the month of May.
Greene's injury opens the door for Tigers newcomer Jake Marisnick, the veteran outfielder they acquired Tuesday from the White Sox in exchange for cash considerations. Hinch said that Marisnick will be in Detroit and activated on Wednesday, with a corresponding move to come.
And while Hinch said "that was happening regardless, before Riley came out of the game," Marisnick could see an immediate opportunity if Greene has to miss any time. While he's never hit much, the 11-year vet has always been a strong defensive center fielder. He also played under Hinch for five seasons with the Astros.
Marisnick, 32, played in nine games this season for the White Sox and 31 the season before that for the Pirates.
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