Detroit Tigers
AL Central
Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Jackson Jobe is scheduled to make his spring debut on March 12 versus the Twins. (Source: Evan Petzold on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Jobe was reassigned to minor-league camp on Friday but will make a start for the Tigers on March 12. The right-hander enjoyed a nice minor-league season following a back injury in 2023, working to a 2.81 ERA with 84 strikeouts across 64 innings. He also posted a 2.87 ERA in four Arizona Fall League starts.
Colt Keith has been absent from the Tigers lineup as he battles the flu. (Source: Evan Petzold on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Keith said he expects to be back in the lineup on Saturday.
Category: Injury Updates
Tarik Skubal has been named as the Tigers Opening Day starter by manager A.J. Hinch. (Source: Jason Beck on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: This comes as no surprise. The velocity for Skubal has taken a bump up this season as he looks to build off a strong campaign last year.
Kerry Carpenter is scheduled to progress to running the bases on Friday. (Source: Evan Petzold on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Carpenter is continuing to slowly work himself back from a left hamstring strain. He was able to face live pitching earlier in the week, and will now progress to running.
Category: Injury Updates
Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda is making his spring debut Friday versus the Phillies. (Source: Detroit Tigers on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The right-hander inked a two-year, $24 million pact with the Tigers in the offseason after spending three seasons with the Twins. Maeda enjoyed a big second half of the 2023 season following a triceps injury, putting him back on the fantasy radar in 2024.
The Tigers designated Andre Lipcius for assignment. (Source: Tigers PR on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: This was the corresponding move to Detroit claiming Buddy Kennedy off waivers.
Category: Transactions
Jack Flaherty is seeking return to form ahead of a pivotal season. (Source: MLB.com)
Fantasy Impact: Flaherty tossed a perfect inning in his spring debut on Monday. He signed a one-year deal with the Tigers this offseason after a poor season last year. “I had stretches where I was really good, even into the beginning of Baltimore, but sometimes you just know, you get that sense,” Flaherty said of his ’23 season. “Whatever I did last offseason didn’t work. Whether it truly was the offseason or Spring Training or the way I went about things, there’s no one true answer. It was like, 'Let’s get back to those things.'"
Sat, Feb 24th 11:35am EST
By Chris Schommer
Javier Baez is in the starting lineup for the Detroit Tigers against the New York Yankees in the team’s Grapefruit League opener Saturday. (Source: Detroit Tigers on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Baez will get some important at-bats as the enigmatic shortstop looks to shake off a disappointing two-year stretch in Detroit and offer manager AJ Hinch an impactful bat in a young, unproven Tigers lineup. Baez will occupy the designated hitter spot and bat cleanup against the Yankees Saturday afternoon.
Sat, Feb 24th 11:32am EST
By Ari Koslow
Riley Greene is tentatively scheduled to DH on Monday against the Astros. (Source: Jason Beck on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Greene is then scheduled to return to the outfield on Tuesday. He remains on track to be fully healthy for Opening Day where he'll be an intriguing value for fantasy managers in drafts this season.
Category: Injury Updates
Casey Mize is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on the mound on Tuesday against the Blue Jays. (Source: Jason Beck on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: It will be the first game action for Mize since undergoing Tommy John surgery. He remains on track to be fully healthy by Opening Day, competing for a spot in the starting rotation.
Category: Injury Updates
The Tigers have designated TJ Hopkins for assignment. (Source: Tigers PR on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: This move was made to make room for the addition of Gio Urshela. Hopkins will see if he lands with a new team through waivers.
Category: Transactions
The Tigers have signed Gio Urshela to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. (Source: Evan Petzold on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Urshela got off to a solid start last season, hitting .299 at the plate before his season ended in June. He'll likely play in some form of a utility role in the infield with the Tigers.
Category: Transactions
Jace Jung was reportedly told he is not competing for an Opening Day roster spot. (Source: Evan Woodbery on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Jung will still look to make an impression in camp over the next month. He ended the season in Double-A last year which is where he should open this season as he continues to work his way up the Tigers farm system.
Alex Faedo will take the mound in Sunday's game against the Rays. (Source: Jason Beck on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Faedo will take the mound for the Tigers second Spring Training game. He posted a 4.45 ERA across 12 starts and 15 appearances last season. He'll likely see both starts and relief appearances once again this year.
Reese Olson will start on Saturday for the Tigers against the Yankees. (Source: Jason Beck on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Olson will take the mound in the Spring Training opener for Detroit. He posted a 3.99 ERA across 18 starts in his debut season last year, and he'll look to take a step forward this season.
The Tigers designated Kolton Ingram for assignment. (Source: Tigers PR on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: This move was made to make room for the addition of TJ Hopkins. Ingram will see if he lands with a new team through waivers.
Category: Transactions
Sawyer Gipson-Long is dealing with a left groin strain. (Source: Evan Petzold on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The injury happened after Gipson-Long completed a bullpen session last week. He underwent imaging to confirm the injury, and is completing rehab daily.
Category: Injury Updates
Brendan White is reportedly dealing with right elbow soreness. (Source: Evan Petzold on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: White is expected to be shut down for a short period of rest before re-starting his throwing program. He can be considered as day-to-day for now with hopes that the soreness goes away soon.
Category: Injury Updates
Keston Hiura has agreed to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training with the Detroit Tigers. (Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Hiura can earn $2 million by making the big league club out of spring training after spending the entire 2023 season in Triple-A with the Brewers organization. The former first-round pick has continued to flash an eye-opening power stroke at times at the major league level, but the slugger’s high strikeout rate should temper expectations for the time being. Fantasy managers should consider this another low-risk signing for Tigers general manager Scott Harris for a club thin at the middle infield positions behind their major-league ready prospects ahead of the 2024 season.
Category: Transactions
Joey Wentz won't be stretched out with the starters this spring as the Tigers want his focus to be solely on competing for a bullpen spot. (Source: Evan Woodbery on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: "We have to make a real decision on him by the end of camp," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. Wentz posted a 6.90 ERA as a starter last season, and is expected to now compete for a spot in the bullpen for Detroit.