Detroit Tigers scratch Kerry Carpenter with hamstring tightness: 'Just being cautious'
CHICAGO — The Detroit Tigers scratched outfielder Kerry Carpenter from the starting lineup Wednesday, June 4, against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field, in which he was supposed to play right field and bat fifth.
Carpenter suffered right hamstring tightness.
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"He's been dealing with this for a couple of days, navigating through the typical wear and tear of the season," manager A.J. Hinch said, adding Carpenter remains available as a pinch-hitter. "We're just being cautious."
Wenceel Pérez replaced Carpenter in Wednesday's lineup.
KERRY BONDS: Tigers' Kerry Carpenter reminds everyone why 'Kerry Bonds' is more than a nickname
Detroit Tigers designated hitter Kerry Carpenter (30) reacts after striking out against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at Rate Field in Chicago on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
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Is Carpenter undergoing any tests?
"No, no, no," Hinch said before Wednesday's game. "He's going to pinch-hit in the seventh inning."
Carpenter — who launched three home runs Monday, June 2, against the White Sox — is hitting .273 with 13 home runs, seven walks and 44 strikeouts across 57 games in 2025, making 39 starts in the outfield and 11 starts at designated hitter.
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He hasn't played in the outfield since Saturday, May 31, against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium — his last of eight games in a row in the outfield.
"That's why I've DH'd him a couple of days in a row," Hinch said. "I sat him on Sunday. I pulled him early last night. I was going to put him in the outfield, but an after meeting with him today, I decided to scratch him."
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Carpenter has a history with injuries and has never stayed healthy for a full season.
The 27-year-old landed on the injured list in each of his first three MLB seasons (2022-24): left lumbar spine strain in September 2022, right shoulder sprain in April 2023 and lumbar spine stress fracture in May 2024.
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He also suffered a left hamstring strain in spring training in February 2024, a left hamstring injury in Game 4 of the ALDS in October 2024 and right hamstring soreness in April 2025. None of those issues required a stint on the injured list.
The Tigers have a roster logjam on the right side of the infield, which often pushes Carpenter to the outfield. If Colt Keith is the designated hitter, Gleyber Torres is at second base, and Spencer Torkelson is at first, where does Carpenter fit?
Carpenter should be the Tigers' everyday designated hitter — both to protect his health and hide his below-average defense — but there isn't a spot for him at designated hitter without benching Keith, Torres or Torkelson.
That's putting his health at risk.
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Dylan Smith optioned to Triple-A Toledo
The Tigers optioned right-handed reliever Dylan Smith to Triple-A Toledo, opening the door for right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long to return from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday against the White Sox.
Called up from Toledo on Friday, May 30, Smith made his MLB debut Monday and pitched in back-to-back games. The 25-year-old allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in three innings, without a strikeout.
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"He wasn't very happy with how he threw his secondary pitches," Hinch said. "He's got some work to do to complete his full arsenal and continue this upward trend of pounding the strike zone with some pretty good stuff."
The Tigers also recalled righty reliever Jason Foley — who underwent season-ending right shoulder surgery — from Triple-A Toledo and placed him on the 60-day injured list, creating room for Gipson-Long's return to the 40-man roster.
Foley will receive MLB service time while rehabbing.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Kerry Carpenter scratched with hamstring injury
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