Detroit Free Press

It’s the afternoon of April 18, 2022, as Ike Blessitt lays down on the hospital bed to have a new stent put in his heart. This isn’t his most involved surgery, just the latest in a long line of them. One day later, the former Detroit Tigers outfielder is back on his feet, leading a tour

HOUSTON — Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal, making his fifth start this season, threw the first pitch of the game to Jose Altuve, a two-seam fastball to the bottom of the strike zone. Altuve, a 12-year MLB veteran, was ready. “Tip your cap,” Skubal said. He turned on it for a solo home run, his 26th

HOUSTON — A.J. Hinch, the former Houston Astros manager, returned to Minute Maid Park on Thursday for the second time as the Detroit Tigers‘ manager and the first time in 2022. He made his first appearance last April, when the Tigers swept the Astros in a three-game series. This time, the teams will play four times

Detroit Tigers (8-15) vs. Houston Astros (14-11) When: 8:10 p.m. Thursday. Where: Minute Maid Park in Houston. TV: Bally Sports Detroit. Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) (Tigers radio affiliates). Weather forecast: Chance of rain, low-80s. Probable pitchers: Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (1-2, 3.05 ERA) vs. Astros RHP Jose Urquidy (2-1 5.95 ERA). • Box score  Tigers lineup 1. Akil Baddoo, CF 2. Robbie Grossman,

Alex Faedo finished his warm-up pitches and stood behind the mound in Comerica Park. He took off his glove and rubbed the ball, as if to savor the moment. “It’s like a dream come true,” his mother, Kristie Donovan, said, sitting in Comerica Park. “that’s the best way to describe it — all that hard work

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was asked Wednesday if Javier Báez‘s defensive play in the third inning surprised him. Báez, in the Tigers’ shifted defense, darted up the middle. He lunged to the dirt behind second base to make a back-handed stop on a ball hit by Bryan Reynolds, keeping it from dancing into center field. It came off

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch walked to the base of the dugout stairs to greet right-hander Alex Faedo. They shook hands, signifying Faedo’s MLB debut was complete after five innings. Not long after, the Tigers scored their first two runs to tie the game. But the Tigers lost to the Pirates, 7-2, in Game 2 of Wednesday’s

Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez put the baseball in play with runners on second and third base and two outs in the fifth inning. Good things followed, but not because of Báez’s bat. Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes failed to field the bouncer from Báez cleanly. The ball skipped past him and into left field for

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Detroit Tigers left-hander Tyler Alexander has felt elbow pain for the past month. Although Alexander felt healthy enough to pitch, the 27-year-old wasn’t in perfect shape for any of his four starts this season. He changed his mechanics to ease some of the stress on his elbow. “Eventually, I just wasn’t able to pronate,” Alexander said Wednesday. “That

Detroit Tigers (7-14) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (9-13) When: 1:10 p.m.; 7:10 p.m. Wednesday. Where: Comerica Park. TV: Bally Sports Detroit. Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) (Tigers radio affiliates). • BOX SCORE Weather forecast: Slight chance of rain, mid-50s. Game 1 probable pitchers: Tigers RHP Michael Pineda (1-1, 3.60 ERA) vs. Pirates LHP Dillon Peters (3-0, 0.00 ERA). Tigers lineup: RF Robbie Grossman

Detroit Tigers (7-14) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (9-13) When: 1:10 p.m.; 7:10 p.m. Wednesday. Where: Comerica Park. TV: Bally Sports Detroit. Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) (Tigers radio affiliates). • BOX SCORE Weather forecast: Slight chance of rain, mid-50s. Game 1 probable pitchers: Tigers RHP Michael Pineda (1-1, 3.60 ERA) vs. Pirates LHP Dillon Peters (3-0, 0.00 ERA). Game 2 probable pitchers: Tigers RHP

Detroit Tigers right-hander Alex Faedo is set for his MLB debut. The 26-year-old will start for the Tigers in Game 2 of Wednesday’s straight nine-inning doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with Game 2 scheduled to begin after Game 1. Tuesday’s series opener was postponed due to rain. “Compete,” Faedo said in March, when asked about his

The Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates postponed Tuesday’s game, scheduled for 7:10 p.m., because of inclement weather at Comerica Park in Detroit. Tuesday’s postponed game will be made up as the second game of a straight nine-inning doubleheader Wednesday, beginning at 1:10 p.m. The doubleheader starts a stretch of 17 games in 15 days. CARLOS

In like a lion, out like lamb. That’s what they say about March. In like a lamb, out like a skewered lamb chop. That’s what we should say about the Detroit Tigers in April. At least that’s been the best way to describe the past two Aprils under manager A.J. Hinch, whose squad just closed

Wily Peralta is a starting pitcher at heart. He is confident and comfortable wherever the Detroit Tigers need him, whether that’s in the rotation or out of the bullpen, but the 32-year-old right-hander started 18 of his 19 games for the Tigers last season and loves pitching deep into games. Right now, Peralta is a reliever.

Detroit Tigers (7-14) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (9-13) When: 7:10 p.m. Tuesday. Where: Comerica Park. TV: Bally Sports Detroit. Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) (Tigers radio affiliates). • BOX SCORE Weather forecast: Chance of rain, mid-50s. Probable pitchers: Tigers RHP Michael Pineda (1-1, 3.60 ERA) vs. Pirates RHP Bryse Wilson (0-0, 4.70 ERA). TIGERS TAKEAWAYS: How Detroit crafted MLB’s best bullpen in April

LOS ANGELES — The Detroit Tigers made a pair of roster moves Monday, as MLB teams were forced to reduce active rosters from 28 to 26 players. They placed left-handed pitcher Tyler Alexander on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 30, with a left elbow strain. Catcher Dustin Garneau was designated for assignment. Teams could carry 28

The first month of the 2022 season is wrapped up and, well, the Detroit Tigers have been lights out. Lights out, in that no team in baseball had less fence-clearing power than the Tigers in April: five Tigers combined for eight homers, two fewer than the next-worst team, the Baltimore Orioles. Lights out, too, in

LOS ANGELES — The Detroit Tigers have the best bullpen in baseball. Give credit to the relievers: left-handers Gregory Soto and Andrew Chafin and right-handers Michael Fulmer, Alex Lange, Joe Jiménez, Jacob Barnes, Wily Peralta, Will Vest and Drew Hutchison. There’s a behind-the-scenes explanation for the success. Before the season, Tigers general manager Al Avila, manager A.J.