Kansas City. Mo. — It’s hard to call it a saving grace, given all that’s gone on around it. But the off-day Thursday and the one coming up Monday could not have come at a more fortuitous time for the Tigers’ depleted pitching staff.
Not only do those days allow the Tigers to get through the series against the New York Mets without deploying another bullpen game, they give the club some extra days to work out when and where Casey Mize and Justin Verlander might fit in.
“The stretch right after the two off-days is going to be a critical time to have more information on Casey and Justin, specifically,” manager AJ Hinch said.
Mize, who has been out since April 28 with a groin strain, is trending toward getting back into the competition potentially during the next homestand (against Toronto and Cleveland). He has continued to throw while rehabbing the groin, but it is possible he will need to make a rehab start with Triple-A Toledo.
Verlander, out since April 1 with hip inflammation, is expected to pitch against hitters in a sim game this weekend. Missing more than a month, it is likely he also will need a rehab start or two.
But Hinch, pitching coach Chris Fetter and the training and medical staffs will make those decisions in due time. More pressing is the pitching plan for this road trip, made more difficult by the five-game suspension levied on Framber Valdez for what the league deemed intentionally throwing a pitch at Red Sox Trevor Story Tuesday night.
The Tigers went into the game against the Red Sox having deployed bullpen games Sunday and Monday. The bullpen also had to cover six innings after Valdez was ejected.
He won’t be reinstated until Wednesday, the middle game of the series against the Mets in Queens.
Again, the off days will help. Here’s an unofficial sketch of how the Tigers might approach the Royals and Mets.
Friday: Keider Montero, who has been a life raft for this rotation, is the official scheduled starter against the Royals.
Saturday: Ty Madden, who pitched five scoreless innings in bulk relief against the Red Sox on Monday, likely will reprise the role here, following an opener and essentially pitching starter’s innings after that.
Sunday: This would’ve been Valdez’s start. Depending on how much the bullpen needs to be used in the first two games, the Tigers, with the off day Monday, could roll out another bullpen game. If the Tigers decided to call up a starter from Toledo, the likely choice would be Sawyer Gipson-Long. But he missed a start with an undisclosed ailment and is on the schedule to start Friday at Toledo.
Tuesday: After the second off day, the Tigers will have Jack Flaharty available to start against the Mets on regular rest.
Wednesday: Valdez’s suspension will have been served and he will be reinstated. Hinch and Fetter would have a decision, start Valdez or Montero, who would be on regular rest.
Thursday: It will either be Montero or Valdez in the finale.
There is a light at the end of this tunnel. It’s faint, but it’s there.
Around the horn
Right-handed pitcher Yoniel Curet and infielder Zack Short, two players the Tigers designated for assignment this week, cleared waivers and were assigned to Toledo. Curet is expected to join the Mud Hens. Short has the option to decline the assignment and become a free agent.
Right-hander Grant Holman, also DFA’d by the Tigers, was claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: For depleted Detroit Tigers pitching staff, off-days coming at right time
Reporting by Chris McCosky, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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