Detroit — Outfielder Victor Reyes, who has had two lengthy stays on the injured list this season with quad injuries in both legs, rejoined the Tigers ahead of Saturday’s game and contributed right away in a 3-1 win against the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park.
He suffered a right quad strain against the Baltimore Orioles on May 15. In his first game back after suffering a left quad strain, he slapped a pitch into the right-field corner and rounded first base, but appeared to slow down before arriving at second safely.
He dejectedly removed his shin guard before being taken out of the game, and out of service for roughly a month.
“I’d like to see him get through the first game before we celebrate (his return),” manager AJ Hinch said before the game Saturday. “I felt so bad for him last time. He was off to a good start, he got a nice base hit and then he runs into second (and gets hurt).
“He’s had a trying year physically, but he certainly is a nice spark. Everybody’s happy when they see him. (We’ll) put him at the top of the order, he can provide some energy. Maybe (he) can get one of those low bullets that (Blue Jays pitcher Kevin) Gausman throws and put it in play.”
Reyes led off Saturday and played center field, going 3-for-4 with an RBI single in the seventh inning.
“That was fun (to see from Reyes),” Hinch said postgame. “Obviously, (we’re) looking for a spark at the top and he hit his way on. He (had) a really big hit at the end, especially when you know their offense is lurking.
“That extra tack-on run is really important to be able to give (us) a little bit of breathing room. … It’s big when you can come up right off the IL and contribute.”
Before the game in speaking with the media, Reyes chalked the injuries up to bad luck but also said he’s been working in his rehab to strengthen both legs, hoping to put an end to his stints on the injured list.
“It’s pretty hard (getting hurt), but it’s something that you cannot control,” Reyes said through a translator in the locker room Saturday. “(But) it’s part of the process.”
Reyes gives the Tigers’ outfield some more reinforcements as it waits for the arrival of Riley Greene. Reyes plays center field, which is thin right now with Daz Cameron out for COVID protocols. He was a close contact to someone with COVID, and must sit five days, starting Friday. Robbie Grossman also was held out of Saturday afternoon’s starting lineup after fouling a ball off his knee in Friday’s game.
Reyes played four games for Triple-A Toledo in his most recent rehab stint, with two hits, including a home run, in 13 at-bats. In 11 games for the Tigers this season, he has a slash line of .292/.346/.458 with no home runs and four RBIs.
To make room on the roster for Reyes, the Tigers demoted rookie right-hander Elvin Rodriguez, who was roughed up badly in his last two starts — allowing 18 earned runs on 19 hits and four walks over his last 8⅔ innings. That works out to an 18.69 ERA. In Friday’s 10-1 loss to the Blue Jays, he allowed eight earned runs and three home runs.
Another injury for Cisnero
Right-handed reliever Jose Cisnero still is waiting to make his 2022 debut, after suffering a right shoulder strain in spring training.
He was back in the Tigers’ clubhouse Saturday, but to have another issue looked at.
“He came to get a checkup on his Achilles, it swelled up on him,” Hinch said. “Go figure, a separate injury than what he’s been dealing with. We’ll get him checked out here and hopefully he can get back on the mound in a couple days and pitch in a game.
“It’s nothing that we’re alarmed by, but with the way this year’s gone, we probably should be alarmed by just about everything.”
Cisnero has been a stable and solid force in the Tigers’ bullpen for the last three seasons, and was expected to be one of the team’s back-end options this year.
Until spring training, that is.
“It was in my last outing against the Phillies back in spring training (where I felt something),” Cisnero said through a translator. “When I was trying to throw a little bit more velo, I tried to do some extra velo, I felt some pinching, or some sting, right under my shoulder, specifically on the left. It was painful. It also kept my control away from me. I could not throw the ball where I wanted. I talked to the trainers, they did some MRIs and they found out all the mess I had down there.
“(When) they told me it was about to be two months to stay away, I felt pretty bad. I didn’t feel good, and every time I wanted to throw, I felt the pain. … I knew it was going to take a little bit of time.”
Pineda making progress
Another player looking to make his way back to the active roster is veteran right-hander Michael Pineda, who took a line drive off the hand in his last appearance against the Orioles on May 14, breaking the middle finger on his right hand.
Pineda threw a bullpen session Tuesday, but his fastball and changeup were the only pitches he felt comfortable throwing. His slider gave him some discomfort.
“There’s still a little sensation in his finger. We’re just trying to keep pushing him to see, is that something that’s going to go away? Is it something he needs to build strength up to?” Hinch said.
“I don’t know a lot about finger rehab, but we’ve just got to keep pushing him forward.”
Pineda said he isn’t sure when he’ll make a rehab start, but he hopes to get another bullpen session in a couple of days.
“But they tell me, like…the more that I’m throwing, the better I’m going to feel,” Pineda said. “So, that’s what I’m doing now.”
Pineda signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Tigers and was off to a good start, with a 3.22 ERA and 1.075 WHIP through five starts before the injury.
Around the horn
►Before Saturday’s game, the Blue Jays promoted one of their top prospects — catcher Gabriel Moreno, who, as a Venezuelan native, grew up a big fan of Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera. Moreno and Cabrera posed for pictures before the game.
►Right-hander Matt Manning (shoulder inflammation), one of seven Tigers pitchers on the IL who were expected to be keystones in the majors this season, has been cleared to throw and “everything has checked out,” Hinch said.
►Left-hander Tyler Alexander (elbow strain) could be nearing a return to Detroit. In his latest and fourth rehab outing with Toledo on Friday, he threw a scoreless inning.
►Hinch said the Tigers will have a bullpen game Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox, but he wasn’t sure who was going to start.
►Despite all the Tigers’ injuries, particularly with pitchers, Detroit’s bullpen has an ERA of 2.81, second in the major leagues behind only Houston (2.65).
Blue Jays at Tigers
First pitch: 1:40 p.m. Sunday, Comerica Park, Detroit
TV/radio: BSD, MLBN/97.1
SCOUTING REPORT
►RHP Ross Stripling (2-1, 3.65), Blue Jays: His return to the rotation was a success, as he allowed one hit and no walks over five innings in beating the Kansas City Royals.
►LHP Tarik Skubal (5-2, 2.33), Tigers: Detroit’s best All-Star hopeful is putting up Cy Young-type numbers. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start since April.
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rsilva@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Rich_Silva18