New York — Javier Báez was back in the Tigers’ starting lineup Tuesday.
A month ago, that wouldn’t have been news. These days, though, even Báez has to check the lineup for his name on a daily basis.
“I’m letting him know series by series what the plan is for that series,” manager AJ Hinch said. “As I spread out playing time, it’s going to be a little more scripted than usual for a lot of guys — not just Javy.”
Hinch said last week that playing time for Báez and others would be more sporadic this month as the club tries to disperse at-bats and playing time throughout the expanded roster that now includes infielders Andre Lipcius and Tyler Nevin.
Báez, Lipcius, Nevin, Andy Ibanez, Matt Vierling and Zack Short are all right-handed hitters. Lipcius got the start at third base over Vierling Tuesday. Hinch said he alerted Nevin that he might be playing in left field on Thursday.
With the start on Tuesday, Báez has played in 16 of the last 28 games, which includes games he missed on bereavement and with the flu last week.
“He’s going to play Tuesday and Thursday (against the Yankees),” Hinch said. “Coming up, we’re going to face a few lefties in a row, so he will get some back-to-backs.”
Báez was not available to the media before the game, but Hinch said he understands the situation.
“It’s important they get their work in and be ready to go at any point,” Hinch said. “The days Javy doesn’t play, he’s available. Health-wise, I think he’s fine. But part of my job is to communicate the plan. But we’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves.”
Báez, 30, has four years and $98 million left on his contract. He can opt out this winter but, given the way this season has gone, he is highly unlikely to exercise that clause.
He’s on track to produce career lows for a full season in home runs (eight), RBIs (54), batting average (.217), on-base percentage (.261), slugging (.317) and OPS-plus (58). Since the death of his grandfather on Aug. 5, he’s hitting .163 (8-for-49) with two extra-base hits, five RBIs and 18 strikeouts.
Hinch, though, made it clear that the reduction in playing time was about giving at-bats to younger players the organization needs to evaluate, not about Báez’s lack of production.
“If we were going to shut Javy down, we’d shut him down for good,” Hinch said. “We’re not. He’s available and he’ll be ready to play whenever I ask. I don’t characterize this as anything other than this is his playing time for the next 25 games.
“And we will tell him in three- to four-game increments and give him a heads-up.”
Around the horn
Starting pitcher Casey Mize resumed his throwing program Tuesday. He threw lightly on flat ground before the game. The Tigers briefly put his throwing progression on pause after he dealt with fatigue in his second live bullpen.
… Reliever Mason Englert, out since July 24 with left hip tightness, threw one inning in his latest rehab outing Sunday at Triple-A Toledo. He allowed a run, a hit, a walk and had a strikeout. He is scheduled to pitch for the Mud Hens again Wednesday. He’s coming toward the end of the 30-day rehab period.
… Lefty Andrew Vasquez (left calf tightness) is scheduled to make his rehab outing Thursday at Toledo.
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
Twitter/X: @cmccosky
Tigers at Yankees
▶ First pitch: 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, Yankee Stadium, New York
▶ TV/radio: BSD/97.1
SCOUTING REPORT
▶ RHP Matt Manning (5-4, 3.62), Tigers: He’s on one. Over his last four starts, covering 23⅔ innings, he’s allowed just one earned run, holding hitters to a .128 average. Last Thursday he shut out this right-handed heavy Yankees lineup on two hits in six innings throwing mostly sliders and four-seamers. His command was precise and he had the Yankees in between all game, evidenced by the six swinging strikes and six called strikes with his slider and five swinging strikes and seven called strikes with the heater.
▶ RHP Clarke Schmidt (8-8, 4.56), Yankees: He pitched opposite Manning in Detroit and blanked them on two hits through four innings, until Zack Short blasted a homer and the Tigers chased him in the fifth. He’s a spin doctor, though. He has elite spin on all four of his pitches — cutter, knuckle curve, sweeper and sinker. He punched out seven in his 4⅔ innings.