Chris McCoskyThe Detroit News
Detroit — In a Tigers tenure littered with tough stretches, the last 12 hours had to be toughest for the man they call Dogger.
Lefty Joey Wentz’s last act as a Tiger, at least for this year, was to throw 17 straight strikes, take back-to-back line drives off his body (hand and knee) and complete two scoreless innings Thursday.
On Friday morning, he was summoned into an office with president Scott Harris and manager AJ Hinch and told that he was being designated for assignment.
“Joey has put a lot of effort in here,” Hinch said. “But his opportunity just ran out.”
The Tigers needed a spot on the 40-man roster to facilitate the return of pitcher Casey Mize, who was activated off the injured list and got the start against the Red Sox Friday. The decision was, essentially, to keep right-hander Brenan Hanifee and lefty Sean Guenther.
Wentz, who checked out healthy on both his hand and knee, is out of minor-league options.
“Both those new guys have thrown very well and are settling in to roles that we are very intrigued by,” Hinch said. “It’s a competition at all times and it just didn’t go in Joey’s favor.”
Wentz, 26 and a former first-round pick of the Atlanta Braves, was acquired in a trade for Shane Greene. He won a spot in the rotation at the start of 2023 after an impressive five-start audition (1.73 ERA) in September 2022.
But he struggled mightily (3-13, 6.90 ERA) in 25 games last season and was ultimately transitioned to the bullpen. Again, though, the performance ebbed and flowed. He had good stretches in April (0.87 ERA), June (3.86) and August (3.48) mixed with extended rough patches in May (9.95) and July (7.84).
“This roster is going to be harder to make and harder to sustain in situations like this,” Hinch said. “If we can keep him in the organization, great. If another team claims him, then they’re getting a good pitcher to work with.
“Things just haven’t clicked consistently for him quite yet. It doesn’t mean they won’t.”
Wentz will be on waivers for three days and then, if unclaimed, be free to either sign back or look for another opportunity. It's hard to imagine teams like the White Sox or Athletics not wanting to get a free look at Wentz for the final month of the season.
“He’s going to be a good pitcher,” Hinch said. “He’s been adaptable to the bullpen and there are parts of what he’s done that are really intriguing.”
Season over for Faedo
The Tigers on Friday moved right-hander Alex Faedo to the 60-day injured list, meaning his season is over.
He got a platelet-rich plasma injection in his strained right shoulder earlier in the week.
“He’s going to be fine moving forward,” Hinch said. “He’s done everything he can to get in a position to have a healthy offseason going into next year.”
Faedo, 28, was a versatile and valuable part of the Tigers’ bullpen. His ability to get left-handed hitters out as well as righties allowed Hinch to use him in a variety of situations.
He finishes with a 5-3 record, a 3.61 ERA and an opponent batting average of .233.
Smoking hot
Zach McKinstry is on a heater.
He took a nine-game hitting streak into the game Friday and over that span has gone 13-for-23 (.565) with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs.
“Just getting more consistent at-bats,” said McKinstry, who since Aug. 3 has raised his batting average from .179 to .223. “I’m seeing the ball a lot better and my hands are working well.”
Since Aug. 3, McKinstry is slashing .379/.429/.569 while playing near flawless defense at multiple positions. He played three positions in the same game on Wednesday.
“It’s easy to forget him,” Hinch said. “His playing time was cut into and his performance has not been his best throughout some of the season. But as I’ve always said, it can change quickly. He hung in and stayed with it and now he’s reaping some reward.”
Around the horn
Removing Wentz and Faedo leaves the Tigers with an open spot on the 40-man roster.
“There’s always moves on the horizon,” Hinch said. “Nothing to comment on now.”
… Rosters can expand to 28 on Sunday. Teams can add two position players or one position player and one pitcher. The Tigers aren’t expected to go outside of their 40-man roster to add players. Outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy is one candidate to be added. Right-handed pitcher and former Dodger Ricky Vanasco is another candidate.
… Shortstop Javier Báez, who is out for the season with right hip and lumbar spine inflammation, is scheduled to have right hip arthroscopy on Tuesday. Hinch was asked if he expected Báez to be ready by spring training.
“We will know more when the doctor gives us the full report on the surgery and what the rehab entails,” he said. “But that’s the hope. Until we get the surgery done and get the doc’s comments, I don’t have any more information.”
… Right-hander Reese Olson, out with a right shoulder sprain, is scheduled to pitch against hitters before the game Saturday. One of those hitters is expected to be outfielder Wenceel Perez, who is working his way back from a left oblique strain.
… Rookie Ty Madden was initially listed as the probable starter for the finale against the Red Sox Sunday. Hinch, though, indicated he might use an opener. Madden, then, would be a candidate to pitch bulk innings out of the bullpen.
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky
Red Sox at Tigers
▶ First pitch: 6:10 p.m. Saturday, Comerica Park, Detroit
▶ TV/radio: BSD/97.1
SCOUTING REPORT
▶ RHP Nick Pivetta (5-9, 4.61), Red Sox: It’s been an uneven ride for him this season. He battled through flexor tendon soreness earlier in the season and skipped a turn this month with arm fatigue. He’s got severe reverse splits with right-handers slugging .524 with an .827 OPS, compared to .380 and .630 against lefties. Right-handers are hitting .296 and slugging .500 against his 94-mph four-seamer.
▶ LHP Tarik Skubal (15-4, 2.58), Tigers: The Tigers are 18-8 when he starts, a stat he cares more about than his MLB-best 15 pitcher wins. He continues to lead the American League in pitcher WAR (5.4), ERA and strikeouts (193). Hitters are whiffing at his changeup on 47% of their swings and the effectiveness of that is predicated on his 97-mph four-seamer. In 2021, Skubal’s four-seamer had a minus-9 run value, per Statcast. Presently, it’s a plus-14 and ranks among the top 1 percent in baseball.
