Detroit Tigers outfielder Nomar Mazara departed from Wednesday’s game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park with a left abdominal strain.
The timetable for Mazara’s return is unclear.
“Right now, it’s day-to-day,” manager AJ Hinch said after the game. “I don’t have a ton of information on it. I generally have high concern when it’s in that area, especially for a rotation-type hitting. We’ll see how it is tomorrow.”
During the top of the fourth inning, the 25-year-old swung at the first pitch against reliever Joe Smith and immediately reached for abdomen, wincing in pain. He took two balls before Hinch and athletic trainer Doug Teter went out to check on him.
Without much of a discussion, Mazara walked back to the dugout.
“He just said he felt something in that area,” Hinch said. “It’s an immediate removal. We’re not going to let him take another swing when he reports that.”
JaCoby Jones pinch-hit for Mazara. Inheriting a 2-1 count, he worked a walk to load the bases. The next batter, Renato Nunez, grounded out to shortstop. Still, the Tigers managed three runs in the fourth for a 6-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Jones took over in center field. Rookie Akil Baddoo shifted to right field, while Robbie Grossman stayed in left field.
This season, Mazara is 9-for-38 (.237) with two home runs, five RBIs, two walks and seven strikeouts. He has already doubled his home-run total from the 2020 season, when he launched one long ball in 42 games for the Chicago White Sox.
From 2016-19 with the Texas Rangers, Mazara crushed at least 19 home runs each season. He signed with the Tigers this offseason on a one-year, $1.75 million contract.
Mazara hit his second home run in 2021 in the fourth inning of Tuesday’s 8-2 win, helping to give the Tigers their first series win against the Astros in Houston since May 2013.
Evan Petzold is a sports reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.