Detroit — The Tigers have seen healthier days.
Ahead of a series opener against the Texas Rangers on Friday evening at Comerica Park, manager AJ Hinch shared a spate of injury updates, including the progress — or seeming lack thereof — with Justin Verlander’s hip inflammation.
Hinch also confirmed relief pitcher Will Vest is dealing with something and is “not 100%.”
As for Verlander, he’s expected to throw another bullpen session this weekend as he continues to manage hip inflammation. Verlander has improved throughout this recovery, Hinch said, but they’re wanting to see him get over the hump of pitching a bullpen without symptoms flaring up. So far, that hasn’t been the case.
Verlander recently discussed the progress he’s made, and the frustration he’s faced rehabbing this injury. And his manager wanted to reiterate just how the veteran pitcher feels about the situation.
“If people are wondering about him, he’s pretty frustrated that it’s not going faster, and doing his best,” Hinch said. “But we’ve just — we’ve got to pay attention to the symptoms.”
A number of Tigers are also beginning rehab assignments in the coming days.
Utility man Zach McKinstry is heading to Columbus, where he’ll join the Toledo Mud Hens for a rehab assignment, Hinch said. McKinstry went on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 16, with left hip/abdominal inflammation.
“So that’s good news,” Hinch said. “He looked good yesterday and he’ll continue his rehab assignment.”
Pitcher Troy Melton is beginning a rehab assignment this weekend in Lakeland, Hinch said, as the pitcher approaches the May 25 date where he can potentially return from the 60-day IL with elbow inflammation.
Two pitchers who are further off from their respective returns also threw recently, Hinch said, as Jackson Jobe threw a bullpen Friday and Beau Brieske threw live batting practice. Brieske is on the 60-day IL dating to March with a left abductor strain, and Jobe is recovering from hybrid Tommy John surgery.
Hinch didn’t offer any updates about Javier Báez (ankle sprain) or Casey Mize (abductor strain) after their recent injuries on Detroit’s road trip.
But with Báez and McKinstry joining Parker Meadows on the injured list, Detroit has been particularly pressed on defense in the outfield of late. The Tigers haven’t been bad, defensively, but Hinch acknowledged they can be better and more consistent.
The (re)addition of Zack Short to the organization brings in another potential infield option for Detroit. But either way, getting things sorted in the outfield has gotten harder as the injuries have piled up.
“Our outfield has been in flux. I mean, we haven’t really had our outfield intact for a bunch of the season,” Hinch said. “So that’s part of it, but we need to make the plays we’re supposed to make.”
Rangers at Tigers
First pitch: 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Comerica Park, Detroit
TV/radio: FOX/97.1 FM
Scouting report
RHP Kumar Rocker (1-2, 3.38 ERA), Rangers: Rocker was once a heralded prospect, but he’s ended up as a middle-rotation arm for the Rangers, and is off to a solid start in 2026. He doesn’t really have a lot of swing-and-miss stuff, but he’s found a way to muddle through to his 3.38 ERA.
RHP Keider Montero (1-2, 4.00), Tigers: Montero has pitched admirably as Detroit’s fill-in since Verlander’s injury, and consistently has given Detroit a shot to win. The Tigers have joked about him lasting longer into games, and after a pair of six-inning starts, he’s failed to go that far in his last two. He’s also lacking in a lot of ready swing-and-miss pitches, with just 23 strikeouts so far.
Andrew Graham is a freelance writer.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers injury updates: AJ Hinch talks Verlander, McKinstry