The Detroit Tigers had high hopes heading into this season. This was to be the year that they emerged from their rebuilding process, fronted by their young rotation and their wave of prospects for the lineup. Eduardo Rodriguez and Javier Baez were supposed to be the veteran pieces they needed to front the rotation and help the lineup. It was finally going to be a good time to be a Tigers fan again.
Then the season started. The Tigers have been one of the majors’ biggest disappointments, struggling to stay out of the overall MLB basement. It certainly has not helped that both Casey Mize and Matt Manning have combined for 18 innings this season, causing Detroit to have to rely on their depth far more than they hoped.
Michael Pineda another tough loss for Detroit Tigers
The Tigers’ rotation took another tough hit on Saturday. Michael Pineda faced four batters before being struck in his pitching hand by a line drive. According to manager A.J. Hinch, Pineda has a fractured middle finger and is set to meet with a specialist to figure out his next steps.
Pineda had already missed time earlier in the year as visa issues delayed his ability to join the Tigers for spring training. However, he had been what the Tigers were hoping for when he was on the mound – a solid back of the rotation arm who could provide generally worry-free innings.
Despite his strikeout rate having decreased, Pineda has been pretty much what the Tigers had hoped for. He has posted a 3.22 ERA and a 1.075 WHiP in his 22.1 innings, striking out 12 batters, but only issuing four walks. If the Tigers continued to struggle, he could have even been a solid trade chip at the deadline.
Now they face some uncertainty. While the Tigers hope that he will not be out for long, it is easy to imagine the worst considering the way their season has gone thus far. It is certain that he will miss some time again, although the length may not be known for a few days.
Michael Pineda has suffered a fractured middle finger after being struck in his pitching hand. The Detroit Tigers starting rotation has taken yet another hit.