Minneapolis — There was a pleasant smell emanating from the back of the Tigers’ clubhouse before the game.
Reliever Alex Lange was burning Palo Santo wood.
“Relieves stress,” Lange said. “Everybody seems pretty relaxed in here, don’t they?”
Apparently, Lange got the wood from rookie Beau Brieske. Palo Santo is native to South American regions, Peru and Ecuador and it is used as a natural remedy for stress, pain and inflammation.
Tarik Skubal joked the other night in Cleveland about burning sage to change the team’s fortunes, maybe the Palo Santo can do the same. Can’t hurt.
Manager AJ Hinch is still not feeling well. He’s been battling a fever, cough and congestion since last week. He was scheduled to see a doctor again before the game here Monday.
“I was tested (for COVID) again, negative,” he said. “I think everybody (in the clubhouse) is OK. But I’ve spent less time with players the last 72 hours than probably ever in my career. I’ve taken a few jabs the boys have thrown at me, so I think they’re doing fine.”
The COVID virus has struck twice already ready. Reliever Will Vest tested positive and was put on the COVID-IL Friday.
“He is doing well,” Hinch said. “He’s asymptomatic, so he’s cleared the initial phase. Once he tests negative twice and gets his antibodies back up, he will be able to come back. But he’s going to need a rehab outing or two before we activate him.”
Hall-of-Famer Jack Morris, who was scheduled to be on the Bally Sports Detroit broadcast with Matt Shepard for all three games in Minnesota, tested positive for COVID and was not with the team.
Former Tigers outfielder Craig Monroe stepped in for Morris.
And before all of that, the Tigers lost the services of outfielder Austin Meadows to a serious onset of vertigo. He’s not been with the team since he went on the injured list May 16.
“He’s going to be out a while,” Hinch said, unable to comment further on Meadows’ condition.
As for Skubal, who took a line drive off his left shin in Cleveland Saturday, threw his between-starts bullpen before the game Monday and felt no discomfort. He will make his next start at Comerica Park Thursday.
A day on for Harold
For the second time in eight days, Harold Castro got the start at third base for Jeimer Candelario.
Candelario is on a 5-for-35 skid over the last 10 games and his batting average has fallen below .200. But Hinch explained that this was more about rewarding Castro than it was about benching Candelario.
“Harold deserves to play a little bit more than he does,” Hinch said. “It’s no knock against Candy or anyone else. I’m just trying to make sure I keep Harold in every series in some way. It’s a soft commitment to myself that Harold deserves to play somewhere in every series to keep him sharp.”
Castro got just one pinch-hit at-bat in the Cleveland series. He’s hitting .288 and slugging .409 on the season.
“When his left-handed bat gets going it’s pretty effective,” Hinch said. “We’re going to see a lot of right-handed pitching over the next 10 to 14 days, too.”
Around the horn
…Matt Manning (shoulder) will make what might be his final rehab start at Triple-A Toledo Tuesday. “He’s feeling great,” Hinch said. “He will be unrestricted. If he gets through it tomorrow without problems, we will see him on the homestand at some point.”
…The news was encouraging for Eduardo Rodriguez, too. Tests taken on Monday revealed no stress reaction in his rib cage. Hinch said it will be still be a few more days before the lefty starter will resume throwing and the ramp up could be slow.
…Casey Mize (elbow) is training in Lakeland but is still not cleared to throw.
…Hinch said the Tigers will deploy all relievers in the finale of the series Wednesday. Right-hander Rony Garcia will get the ball first.
…Veteran right-hander Drew Hutchison, designated for assignment by the Tigers earlier this month, signed back on a minor-league deal and has reported to Toledo.
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @cmccosky
Tigers at Twins
When: 7:40 p.m., Tuesday, Target Field, Minneapolis
TV/radio: BSD/97.1.
Scouting report
RHP Beau Brieske (0-3, 5.13), Tigers: The overall numbers won’t show how he’s soldiered his way into the fifth and sixth innings after slow starts and with the exception of his last start in Tampa, kept the Tigers in the fight. But he’s not missing a lot of bats – ranking in the bottom 3 percentile in whiff percentage and bottom 5 in strikeout rate.
RHP Sonny Gray (1-1, 3.48), Twins: This will be just his sixth start, his season interrupted by a hamstring injury. He’s been sharp since he’s returned, striking out 20 in 14.1 innings in his last three starts. He has six pitches at his disposal but his sinker has been his primary – holding hitters to a .167 average with 18 strikeouts.