Injuries & Moves: Maeda (illness) placed on IL
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May 11: RHP Kenta Maeda (viral illness) placed on 15-day IL; OF Akil Baddoo recalled from Triple-A Toledo
Maeda’s move was retroactive to May 8, the day after his last start, when he gave up seven runs on five hits in two innings at Cleveland. The illness is the same ailment that sidelined outfielder Mark Canha for a few days earlier in the week, and has hit other players and coaches to varying degrees in recent days.
“It's hit him pretty hard where he feels miserable,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Once he’s back to sort of moving around, we’ll get him back up and running, and then there clearly will be a rehab assignment and getting him back into the game. Hopefully that’s sooner rather than later, but we’ve got to let this virus get through him to where he can come in and get a full workout before we even get him back on the mound.”
The time off will act as a reset of sorts for Maeda, who has largely struggled to a 6.75 ERA over seven starts as a Tiger, including nine home runs over 30 2/3 innings.
“I don’t think it’s going to be [an] extended [absence],” Hinch said. “Most of this [illness] has been four or five days for people. But four or five days of not throwing, it sets him back and I guess will allow us to build him back up and get him some work.”
Baddoo was a late scratch from Triple-A Toledo’s lineup on Saturday along with Matt Manning, who had been the scheduled starter. Manning will fill Maeda’s rotation spot, which is due up Monday against the Marlins. In the meantime, the Tigers will use the roster spot for an extra position player, which led to Baddoo’s callup as an extra left-handed bat and pinch-running option.
Baddoo is slashing .257/.366/.478 in 30 games for Toledo with five doubles, four triples, four homers, 16 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 15 attempts. Manning has already made three starts for Detroit as an extra pitcher for doubleheaders, allowing eight runs on 12 hits and eight walks over 17 innings to go with 17 strikeouts.
May 11: INF Gio Urshela (right hamstring strain) progressing in rehab assignment
Urshela, who's been out since April 20, returned to Comerica Park on Saturday to work out with coaches. It was a scheduled off-day on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo after he went 2-for-5 in two games. He’s slated to start at third base for the Mud Hens on Sunday, according to manager A.J. Hinch, before they evaluate his status.
“We’ll see what that leads to,” Hinch said. “We’d like to see him be more explosive and be back to kind of regular form, not just the fact that he can get on the field, but be the Gio that we know he can be and -- in all fairness to him and fairness to us -- be good and have no worries.”
Whenever that happens, the Tigers will have a decision to make on how to fit him on the roster. Detroit called up Wenceel Pérez when Urshela went on the injured list, but the switch-hitting Pérez is likely staying for a while, having taken over primary duties in center field.
Ryan Vilade, who was called up on Wednesday when Parker Meadows was optioned to Toledo, could be an option if the Tigers want to replace one right-handed hitter with another, but Detroit could potentially face several left-handed starters on its upcoming schedule.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Kenta Maeda (viral illness)
Expected return: TBD
Maeda was placed on the injured list on May 11, retroactive to May 8, the day after his last start. He remains ill, but will resume playing catch once he recovers. (Last updated: May 12)
INF Gio Urshela (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: Possibly the week of May 13
Urshela, who began a rehab assignment on May 9, is 2-for-5 with two singles through two games for Triple-A Toledo. He is scheduled to make another start for the Mud Hens at third base on May 12. (Last updated: May 11)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long (left groin strain, right forearm tightness)
Expected return: 2025
After having UCL repair surgery on his right elbow, Gipson-Long is completing rehab daily in Lakeland, Fla. The Tigers transferred him to the 60-day injured list on May 7 to open a 40-man roster spot. (Last updated: May 7)