Detroit — Manager AJ Hinch will deliver no news until its time.
He understands everyone’s anxiousness to see Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize and Justin Verlander back in the Old English D, and all three are on the verge of returning, but until the plans can be finalized, he’s loath to make any announcements.
“We need to digest all this and see what the next steps are,” he said. “There is no rush to plan yet. We want (them) back as soon as possible, as healthy as possible and as safe as possible. We have some tentative plans in mind and I like where it’s going.”
Skubal could return as soon as Saturday against the Guardians in Cleveland. He threw a bullpen off the stadium mound at Comerica Park before the game Wednesday and it was all systems go.
Mize was back in the Tigers’ clubhouse Wednesday after pitching five innings (55 pitches) with Low-A Lakeland on Tuesday night in Clearwater.
“I had to go to the bullpen after and throw a little more,” Mize said. “But I did what we set out to do. Everything seems in line.”
Mize, who allowed three hits, including a solo homer, with five strikeouts and a walk, is scheduled to throw a bullpen Thursday. He could be in line to pitch in the finale in Cleveland on Sunday.
As for Verlander, he made the trek down I-75 Wednesday to make his second rehab start with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens (7:05 p.m. game time). Reliever Kenley Jansen was also heading to Toledo to pitch an inning following Verlander.
So, the Toledo faithful were going to be rewarded with the game’s active strikeout leader and active saves leader in the same game.
The hope is Verlander can be activated at some point in the Houston series next week.
Hinch also offered an update on shortstop-centerfielder Javier Báez, who has been shut down from baseball activities in Lakeland as tries to rehab back from a high ankle sprain.
“Just time,” Hinch said. “We have to pay attention to symptoms and the diagnosis has been more rest. It’s about (pain) tolerance, too, not going too hard or too fast.”
Hinch said Báez is doing a lot of aquatic work along with physical therapy.
“He’s doing a lot of things to reduce swelling,” he said. “High-ankle sprains are unpredictable and often it’s a choppy return, which is what we’re seeing with Javy. It’s no fault of his. He’s been grinding and pushing.
“But until it subsides, we can’t do much to advance him.”
Baez could be moved to the 60-day injured list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster once Verlander is activated.
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers hold off finalizing pitching plans
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