Story by
Detroit Tigers injury report: Matt Vierling heading to IL again, Trey Sweeney called up
- Story by
- Detroit Tigers injury report: Matt Vierling heading to IL again, Trey Sweeney called up
The Detroit Tigers are sending utility man Matt Vierling to the 10-day injured list with an injury to his left oblique.
Replacing Vierling on the active roster is shortstop Trey Sweeney , who the Tigers optioned to Triple-A Toledo on July 28. Sweeney will be in the starting lineup, with Javier Báez taking Vierling's place in center field.
Advertisement
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said he found out about the oblique injury after the game on Saturday, Aug. 9, a 7-4 home loss to the Los Angeles Angels . Hinch said that Vierling had been struggling with "intermittent soreness" to the oblique in August, and that testing after the game on Saturday showed an injury that required an IL stint.
Vierling has played in 31 games this season, first appearing on May 23 after suffering a right shoulder injury in February, and then re-appearing on the injured list after reaggravating his shoulder on June 28. He has struggled to find consistency at the plate, hitting for a .617 OPS in exactly 100 plate appearances, but hit a clutch go-ahead three-run home run against the Angels on Friday, Aug. 8 to give the Tigers a much-needed victory in the series opener.
Wenceel Perez injury update: Outfielder is OK
In other injury news, Tigers outfielder Wenceel Pérez was back in the clubhouse and walking normally. He left Saturday's game after a hitting a foul ball off his right foot in the second inning. X-rays were negative, however, with Hinch saying on Sunday that everything checked out.
Advertisement
He greeted Tigers staffers on Sunday by saying: "All good. A little swollen, but everything's good," referring to his foot. Pérez wasn't in the starting lineup for Sunday's game, but Hinch said they will use him today if needed.
"I mean, hope he doesn't hit the ball off his foot," Hinch said.
Tarik Skubal 's start moved back
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) shares a few words with Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Mike Trout (not pictured) after he got Trout to line out to third base in the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal's spot in the rotation could have landed him to pitch the series finale against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago on Wednesday, Aug. 13, but Hinch announced before Sunday's game that his start would be moved back to the series opener against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, Aug. 14.
Advertisement
That's a result of the entire rotation getting pushed back an extra day as the Tigers are in the midst of a 13-day stretch without an off day.
"We've done this routinely for the entire year, and this is the, maybe not the last stretch of a bunch of games in a row, but pretty close, to the longest stretch we are going to have between off days," Hinch said.
That leaves Wednesday's starter in question, with new addition Chris Paddack likely starting on Monday, Aug. 11 and Jack Flaherty starting on Tuesday, Aug 12. It's possible the Tigers will turn to a bullpen game for the series finale against the White Sox on Wednesday.
Hinch didn't commit to an exact plan for Wednesday's start.
Advertisement
"We'll figure it out as we get there," said Hinch. "There's some communication that's going to have to be done daily to figure out how we're going to piece it together. We have capable arms both here or elsewhere, but I don't know what we're going to be doing."
The extra day of rest may benefit Skubal, who had one of his most challenging starts of the season on Friday, giving up four earned runs on six hits and not completing five innings in a game for this first time this season. Despite the relatively rough outing for the Cy Young favorite, however, the Tigers won 6-5 on Vierling's go-ahead home run in the eighth inning.
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers injury report: Matt Vierling to IL, Sweeney called up
