Detroit — Second baseman Gleyber Torres and outfielder Kerry Carpenter, two vital cogs in the Tigers’ offense, are starting rehab assignments.
Both were scheduled to join Triple-A Toledo on Thursday. Torres, who is working back from an oblique strain, was still at least one more workout day away from playing in a game. Carpenter, who sprained the AC joint in his left shoulder, is expected to lead off and start in right field Thursday.
“Carp could play the whole game, though he may not,” manager AJ Hinch said. “He’s built up. Gleyber still needs another day of full work. But sending him to Toledo and not taking him with us (to Chicago), we’re hoping he can play this weekend.”
Barring setbacks, both players could conceivably rejoin the Tigers in Tampa next week for the three-game series against the Rays.
Right-handed reliever Beau Brieske (groin) is also close to returning.
“We’re getting him out of rehab mode and getting him to just show up at the ballpark and get ready to pitch,” Hinch said. “He’s had some bursts of some pretty good stuff and he’s also had some execution challenges.”
Brieske, who still has another week left on his 30-day rehab assignment, has pitched 5.2 innings with the Mud Hens (four runs, two home runs, three walks and five strikeouts).
“We expect him to be ready at a moment’s notice,” Hinch said. “We’re watching pretty closely on when he can fit into the bullpen here.”
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers’ Gleyber Torres, Kerry Carpenter to start rehab games