Toronto – The medical update on Tigers’ right-hander Beau Brieske is encouraging.
We think.
Brieske, according to the Tigers, was diagnosed with right ulnar nerve entrapment after receiving multiple medical opinions. He underwent a nerve hydrodissection procedure to treat his symptoms.
The encouraging part is it was a minimally-invasive procedure and not ulnar nerve replacement surgery, also known as Tommy John surgery. Brieske, who is in Lakeland, is expected to resume throwing later this week.
“I don’t know a ton about the procedure,” manager AJ Hinch said. “It sounds like things are pointing in the right direction just from the way he reported it to me and to (pitching coach Chris) Fetter.”
According to the National Institute of Health, in a nerve hydrodissection procedure, a high-resolution, ultrasound-guided fluid is injected into the arm to separate the compressed nerves.
It typically takes a couple of days for the post-procedure soreness to subside and in some cases, the procedure has to be repeated.
So, Brieske isn’t out of the woods just yet.
“The news for me will be good when he can be more competitive and is able to maintain his throwing progression,” Hinch said. “We’re certainly happy to hear he’s going to be in Lakeland doing a lot of activity as a baseball player and not a medical patient.”
Báez hitting fifth
Off to a 4-for-36 start this season with a 49% chase rate, Javier Báez was dropped to the fifth spot in Hinch’s batting order Tuesday against Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah.
“Just giving him a different look, putting him in a different position,” Hinch said. “It’s more about the combination at the top of the order.”
Hinch had Akil Baddoo and Riley Greene hitting one-two and wanted Kerry Carpenter to hit in the clean-up spot.
“So my two choices for Javy were three and five,” Hinch said. “This is what I went with. I hope this gives him a different look.”
Make no mistake, the slow start and the consistent swings out of the zone were a factor, as well.
“Regardless of where he hits, we’d like him to get in the strike zone a little more,” Hinch said. “Even one of the hits he got the other day (Sunday) was on a pitch outside the strike zone. That’s good for that particular at-bat but it’s not sustainable.
“He’s hit everywhere in the lineup in his life. He probably will on this team, too.”
Around the horn
… Right-hander Michael Lorenzen (groin) traveled with the team to Toronto but he was not activated off the injured list. He threw a bullpen before the game and could rejoin the rotation as early as Friday. “His bullpen went well,” Hinch said. “We have a plan for him but we’re not prepared to share that right now. We feel good about where he’s at physically and what he can do in his next start.”
… Joey Wentz, who has filled Lorenzen’s spot in the rotation for two starts, would likely be optioned back to Toledo when Lorenzen is activated. In the meantime, Hinch was asked if Wentz would be available to work out of the bullpen. He only threw 47 pitches in his last start on Saturday. “I wouldn’t tell you that,” he said, with a smile. “You can check the television to see if he’s in the dugout.”
… The Tigers will face three right-handed starters in this series – Manoah, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt. Hinch would prefer to give designated hitter Miguel Cabrera his starts against lefties. Cabrera was out of the lineup Tuesday, but Hinch he planned to start him Wednesday and Thursday.
… Cabrera, by the way, is one extra base away from tying Tris Speaker for 16th all-time (1,134).
mfalkner@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @cmccosky
Tigers at Blue Jays
When: 7:10 p.m., Wednesday, Rogers Centre, Toronto
TV/radio: BSD/97.1
Scouting report
LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (0-2, 6.30, Tigers: He’s allowed three home runs in 10 innings, which is uncharacteristic. His career home run percentage is 3. His four-seam fastball and cutter have been doing good work (3 for 18) but his changeup has been fickle so far. His chase rate (24%) and whiff rate (17%) are also below his norm in the small sample.
RHP Kevin Gausman (1-1, 0.00), Blue Jays: Whacky start to the season for the 32-year-old split-finger specialist. He’s pitched 12 scoreless innings with 14 strikeouts and three walks, despite allowing 12 hits. Well-spaced. Two starts in he hasn’t gotten his fastball velocity up to his normal 95 mph (sitting 93) but the splitter has been dancing (38% chase, 32% whiff).