KANSAS CITY — The depth of the Tigers’ rotation is getting tested. A day after the team placed Casey Mize on the 10-day injured list with a right elbow sprain, fellow right-hander Matt Manning left his start Saturday against the Royals with right shoulder discomfort, according to the team.
Manning lasted just two innings, allowing a run on five hits over 38 pitches. He made an outstretched attempt at a bouncing comebacker on the final play of the second inning, but deflected it with his glove hand. His velocity was down on all of his pitches compared to his previous start Monday against the Red Sox, but in most cases by about half-a-mile-per-hour.
The Bally Sports Detroit broadcast showed manager A.J. Hinch and pitching coach Chris Fetter in discussion in the Tigers’ dugout after the inning, with Fetter gesturing to his right shoulder area. Drew Hutchison started warming in the Tigers’ bullpen immediately and replaced Manning for the third inning.
Manning has been one of the more durable starters in the Tigers’ system since Detroit selected him with the ninth overall pick of the 2016 MLB Draft. He was shut down for the final month of the 2020 season after experiencing forearm tightness while working out at the alternate site in Toledo, but came back for a full season last year between Triple-A Toledo and Detroit.