Vierling's season in question after oblique strain
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DETROIT -- Just as Matt Vierling seemed to be rounding into form after an injury-plagued first half of the season, the injury bug has hit the Tigers outfielder again. The club placed Vierling on the 15-day injured list Sunday morning with a left oblique strain, putting his season into question just two days after he hit a go-ahead three-run homer to beat the Angels.
Detroit recalled shortstop Trey Sweeney from Triple-A Toledo to fill the roster spot. Expect All-Star Javier Báez to see some more playing time in center field along with Wenceel Pérez to help try to fill Vierling’s shoes as the Tigers enter the stretch run of a tightening American League Central race.
“Timing-wise, we’re obviously towards the tail end of the season,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We have not eliminated the chance for him to come back. The severity of [the oblique strain] is mild, but clearly he’s going on the IL.”
The oblique injury was neither sudden nor severe, but it did catch the Tigers somewhat by surprise. It had emerged and worsened gradually on checked swings and movements but had been treatable. It wasn’t the reason Detroit pinch-hit for Vierling with Kerry Carpenter on Saturday, but Vierling felt badly enough after the game that he underwent tests.
Vierling stepped off the bench for a pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning Friday, providing the kind of boost that was hoped to lift both the team and the player. The latter was especially important after he missed most of the season’s first half with a right shoulder strain suffered early in Spring Training.
Vierling was a 3.0-bWAR player last year, batting .257/.312/.423 with 28 doubles, 16 home runs, 57 RBIs, 80 runs scored and a 108 wRC+. It was hoped to be a springboard season for the 28-year-old outfielder, but injuries have denied him even the playing time to try to build on that. Friday’s home run was his first since last September.
“It’s frustrating,” Hinch said, “because he’s wanted to play through all this.”
The Tigers could get primary center fielder Parker Meadows back in the next week or two; he’s currently on the 10-day IL with a right quad strain but could go on a rehab assignment later this coming week. But his return doesn’t address the lefty-righty balance that allowed Hinch to play platoon advantages over the past few weeks.