Detroit — Javier Baez got a second consecutive day off Thursday, as the Tigers ended their series against the Minnesota Twins.
Baez isn’t injured, and there was no discomfort involved.
It was simply a good opportunity to give the struggling Baez a chance to sit and reset himself.
Baez is struggling (.197/.236/.542) with three home runs and 13 RBI, and he has struck out in 41 of his 157 at-bats. In May, Baez hit only .159 (18-for-113) with one home run and 30 strikeouts (to only four walks).
“Sometimes, watching the game is good and when you have Harold (Castro) playing the way he is, it’s pretty convenient to give Javy a couple days off to reset physically, reset mentally, and just watch his teammates play,” manager A.J. Hinch said, adding that Baez will return to the lineup Friday in New York.
The extended slump may be getting to Baez mentally, and he may have been wearing himself down in some ways.
“The harder he’s tried, the more he’s chased, and the more he’s chased the worse the offense has gotten, and that’s grinding on him quite a bit,” Hinch said. “It’s the worst stretch of his career, and that’s no fun — and when you stop having fun offensively, it makes for a very difficult game.”
Baez has dealt with cold stretches in earlier parts of his career and turned seasons around. Baez has been hitting balls hard to right field lately, a good sign he’s staying on the ball. And his defense has been consistently sparkling.
Hinch is confident Baez will work out of the difficulties.
“He’ll bounce back,” Hinch said. “He’s had tough stretches before and bounced back and had incredible years. (There are) a lot of at-bats left. Giving him another day is pretty easy because of what Harold is doing.”
Castro producing
Speaking of Harold Castro, his contribution offensively and defensively has been invaluable through the start of this season.
Castro is hitting .315 in 96 at-bats with six doubles, a triple and four home runs. But Castro has been particularly effective lately, going 10-for-23 with three homers and three doubles in the last six games (before Thursday).
“He’s been really good,” Hinch said. “Originally, Harold was going to sit three or four days and go out and get a hit and play any position, and it’s turned into a more prominent role.
“Now, some of it is based on his performance, a little bit health, a little bit underperformance by others, and he can do it.”
Castro’s even-keeled approach is also a plus.
“He’s a very consistent personality, a very consistent approach, and when he gets hot and gets his hits, it’s pretty easy to put him into the lineup,” Hinch said.
Sight alteration
Pitcher Tyler Alexander is returning to the bullpen once he returns to the Tigers, possibly late next week.
Alexander is on the 15-day injured list because of an elbow injury. He is scheduled to throw two innings Saturday for Triple-A Toledo and make another two-inning appearance early next week with the Mud Hens.
“Getting in more game action will be more important than stretching him out 60 to 70 pitches,” Hinch said, noting starters Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Pineda are on track to return soon. “We don’t want him to build him for a start or two games and have to reset him again.
“His best role would be in the bridge (middle innings). Our starters generally are getting into the middle part of the game, and we have a lot of innings to cover.”
Around the horn
Rodriguez (rib cage) will throw in the bullpen this weekend, and if things are positive, he could pitch multiple innings on a rehab assignment next week. Hinch said Rodriguez hasn’t missed much playing time, so his strength remains good.
… The Tigers may tinker with the rotation soon, with injured pitchers returning and young pitchers such as Alex Faedo, Beau Briskie and Elvin Rodriguez needing a breather.
“This is asking a lot of these guys in a five-man rotation at this juncture of their career,” Hinch said. “We’re working on it and we’ll see what happens. The month of June schedule-wise is kinder with off days than what May was and what July is going to be.”
… Outfielder Austin Meadows (vertigo) texted with Hinch Thursday morning after playing with the Mud Hens on Wednesday.
“He said he felt great,” Hinch said of Meadows, who hasn’t played since May 15. “He felt he was symptom-free. He got three at-bats, hit the ball hard one time and had to run the bases once. Getting back into baseball was a little funny because he hadn’t done hardly anything for a couple of weeks in (terms of) game action.
“He said he felt real good and see ya’ soon, so that’s a good sign.”
… Infield prospect Ryan Kreidler, who recently returned from a fractured right hand, is getting “a couple days” to reset himself in Toledo.
Kreidler developed some soreness after returning to game action last week.
“There’s nothing to reinjure; (the hand) is fixed, but the hand strength and the bouncing back after all the swings, the game action, it all bothered him a little bit, as expected,” Hinch said.
… The Tigers’ game Sunday at Yankee Stadium is an 11:30 a.m. start, a unique feature in the schedule because of the national weekly broadcasts on the Peacock Network. Hinch isn’t a huge fan of the start time.
“That’ll be a first since the minor leagues,” Hinch said, noting the 10 or 11 a.m. start times on certain Kids Days in the minor leagues. “We have some noon games here and there, and in Minnesota, we play early all the time, but 11:30 at Yankee Stadium will be a first.”
On deck: Yankees
► Series: Three games at Yankee Stadium, New York
► First pitch: Friday — 7:05 p.m.; Saturday — 1:05 p.m.; Sunday — 11:35 a.m.
► TV/radio: Friday — AppleTV+; Saturday — BSD; Sunday — Peacock / All games on 97.1 FM.
► Probables: Friday — RHP Elvin Rodriguez (0-0, 6.17) vs. RHP Gerrit Cole (4-1, 3.12); Saturday — Beau Briskie (0-4, 5.25) vs. RHP Luis Severino (3-1, 3.38), ; Sunday — RHP Rony Garcia (0-0, 4.70) vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery (1-1, 3.04).
Scouting report
► Rodriguez, Tigers: Rodriguez has pitched in three games, including two starts, and allowed nine hits and eight earned runs in 11.2 innings. But Rodriguez pitched well in his last start, allowing no runs and two hits over four innings on May 29 against Cleveland before leaving because of cramping.
► Cole, Yankees: Cole has been very much the ace he’s been throughout his career, going at least six innings in all seven of his recent starts, including a dominant six-inning stint against Tampa Bay in his last outing, allowing two hits and one run, while striking out 10 hitters over six innings.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan