Fans did a double take when the Detroit Tigers made a last-minute lineup change against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, just before the opening pitch. One of the team’s most reliable batsmen, Kerry Carpenter, was benched.
There was, of course, conjecture—was it an injury? Thankfully, manager A.J. Hinch clarified the situation before to the match, and the response is far more cautious than disastrous.
TL;DR
- Kerry Carpenter was scratched from the Tigers’ lineup before Wednesday’s game vs. the White Sox.
- He’s been dealing with tightness in his right hamstring for the past few days.
- Carpenter had been serving as the designated hitter to manage the discomfort.
- A.J. Hinch said the team is just being cautious, not concerned.
- Carpenter was still expected to pinch-hit if needed later in the game.
The Situation: Tightness, Not Trouble
Over the past two days, Carpenter has been playing through some slight soreness in his right hamstring, according to A.J. Hinch. It’s more of a persistent problem that the Tigers are sensibly choosing to keep an eye on than a recent injury or an unexpected event.
The Detroit News cited Hinch as saying, “He’s been dealing with this for a couple of days.” “He has been attempting to manage the normal season-related wear and tear.”
Carpenter was given Sunday off after serving as the designated hitter for two consecutive games before to Wednesday’s scratch. In the eighth inning of Tuesday’s game, Hinch even withdrew him, which now appears to be more of a precautionary measure than anything concerning.
No Tests Needed, No Panic Necessary
The good news? It doesn’t seem like this is serious.
Hinch firmly denied that Carpenter would be subjected to hamstring testing. The 26-year-old slugger could still pinch-hit in the final innings of Wednesday’s game if the perfect matchup came up, he really left open.
Hinch continued, “He’s most likely going to pinch-hit tonight in the seventh inning.”
To put it another way, the Tigers are just managing their important players wisely in the midst of a long season; this isn’t a trip to the injured list or a season-shifting issue.
What It Means Moving Forward
Carpenter has subtly emerged as one of Detroit’s most valuable hitters, adding strength and reliability to a lineup that has occasionally had trouble scoring runs this season. Maintaining his health is crucial because of his clutch hitting and fluid left-handed swing.
If the tightness persists, the team’s depth will be put to the test, but for the time being, it appears to be a routine issue rather than a serious one. Over the course of the following week, Hinch and the medical team will likely continue to keep an eye on his workload.
