The Detroit Tigers are gearing up for a playoff push in the second half of the season. But to cash in on the best record in Major League Baseball, they’ll need to make sure they’re healthy enough to make an impact when they get there.
That is a concern with Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter. Detroit’s right fielder was a big reason why they made a late push to the postseason a year ago, hitting .284/.345/.587 with 18 homers and 57 RBI in 87 games and has picked up where he’s left off this season, hitting .257/.285/.494 with 16 homers and 32 RBI.
While Carpenter has been a key run producer, his health has been a question, and it could affect any trade deadline plans after an injury scare on Sunday night.
Kerry Carpenter’s Injury Should Have Tigers Pushing for a Trade
Carpenter was removed after injuring his hamstring on a fifth-inning triple during Sunday night’s 3-0 win over the Minnesota Twins. While Carpenter was able to leg out the three-bagger on the play, he labored around the bases before being replaced by Wenceel Peréz.
“He felt that same sensation that he’s felt,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said via The Detroit Free Press’s Christian Romo after the game. “When Kerry hit it he probably thought double, and then saw that he could get it into a triple, and he felt that sensation.”
While Carpenter has been an offensive force for the Tigers this year, he’s battled hamstring issues since the season began. He also added a home run in the first inning to open the scoring for Detroit on Sunday night, but his injury is a constant reminder that the Tigers should be working the phones ahead of the July 31 deadline.
That may be easier said than done at the moment. There are currently six teams within five games of the final Wild Card spot in the American League and four teams within five games of a playoff spot in the National League. Including the six teams in each league that are in position for a postseason berth, that puts 23 teams in contention with a month to go before the trade deadline.
This could have some teams chasing the high of a playoff berth even if they don’t have a shot at winning the World Series. But that shouldn’t mean the Tigers don’t have a sense of urgency to add a right-handed bat before the deadline.
The good news is that the Tigers believe Carpenter’s isn’t significant, although he’ll undergo an MRI on their off day on Monday. But if he winds up on the shelf for an extended period of time, the Tigers may have to due their deadline shopping a little early.