Detroit Tigers right-hander Matt Manning, who has completed three starts in his rehab assignment, is scheduled to throw a bullpen before Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park.
Beyond that, it’s unclear when and where Manning will pitch next.
“We haven’t made a definitive decision yet,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Friday, “and we probably won’t in the next couple of days, which will be hard on everybody. We’re going to try to use as much time and as much information as we can to decide what’s next, whether that’s another rehab start or potentially something else.”
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Manning hasn’t pitched for the Tigers since April 11, when a comebacker fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. He has a 4.63 ERA with three walks and seven strikeouts across 11⅔ innings in two starts this season.
The 25-year-old could return to Triple-A Toledo and make his fourth rehab start, or he could join the Tigers on their upcoming road trip and face the Texas Rangers — possibly on Tuesday — in Arlington.
The Tigers currently have a four-man rotation of Joey Wentz (Friday vs. Twins), Reese Olson (Saturday vs. Twins), Michael Lorenzen (Sunday vs. Twins) and Matthew Boyd (likely Monday vs. Rangers).
The Mud Hens don’t play Monday and Tuesday, so Manning wouldn’t be able to pitch for Toledo until Wednesday, on five days rest. Left-hander Tarik Skubal, however, needs another rehab start with the Mud Hens and seems likely to pitch Wednesday on six days rest.
All signs point to Manning’s return to the Tigers in Arlington.
“It’s more about Matt Manning,” Hinch said, when asked if bullpen usage this weekend could dictate Manning’s next start. “When you’re bringing guys off the injured list, there are so many decisions that have to go with that.
“We will not fast-forward him if we don’t feel like he’s ready to absorb what a starter should do. … The bottom line is, is he ready to pitch at his accustomed level against one of the best offenses in baseball, versus the bullpen game which could tax you?”
In three rehab starts, Manning has allowed one unearned run on eight walks and nine strikeouts over 8⅔ innings. He threw 41 of 73 pitches for strikes Thursday, completing four scoreless innings with one hit, five walks and six strikeouts.
Manning threw 35 four-seam fastballs (48%), 19 curveballs (26%), nine changeups (12%), five sliders (7%) and five sinkers (7%). He generated eight whiffs, including five with his curveball, and five called strikes.
His fastball averaged 93.3 mph.
“When he lost his command a little bit, he paid for it, and then he pitched out of it and missed some bats,” Hinch said. “There was some really good involved, too. Sometimes, when guys are on rehab, you want them to have just enough struggle to have to work through something, rather than just logging pitches.”
The latest on Tarik Skubal
Before Manning pitched Thursday, Skubal pitched Wednesday in the fourth start of his rehab assignment. He will not travel with the Tigers to Texas and Colorado.
Skubal, returning from last year’s left flexor tendon surgery, has a 1.69 ERA with one walk and 16 strikeouts over 10⅔ innings in two starts for High-A West Michigan and two starts for Triple-A Toledo.
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In Wednesday’s start, Skubal allowed two runs on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts in 2⅔ innings, throwing 32 of 52 pitches for strikes.
Skubal said he “hit my thumb on my knee when I was going back to throw” in the second inning, which prompted a reaction from the left-hander and a visit from the Mud Hens’ medical staff.
But Skubal was cleared to continue pitching.
“One of the beauties of knowing your players is knowing the facial reactions,” Hinch said. “I knew he was fine when the camera went to him. That’s something you never want to see. It’s the positive and negative to having access to some of these games.”
Skubal threw 19 four-seam fastballs (37%), 13 sliders (25%), eight changeups (15%), seven knuckle curveballs (13%) and five sinkers (10%). He generated eight whiffs and 11 called strikes.
His fastball averaged 95.9 mph.
“I thought his stuff was really good,” Hinch said. “Again, a game at the Triple-A level where he needed to get tested a little bit and work through some things. He gave up a few base hits and pitched out of the stretch.”
A rehabbing pitcher can be assigned to minor-league affiliates for a maximum of 30 days, which has implications for both pitchers. Skubal began his rehab assignment June 4, while Manning began his rehab assignment June 11.
Still, Manning could return before Skubal.
“Both Manning and Skubal have picked a runner off in the minor leagues,” Hinch said, “so I’ll hear about that quite a bit, as much as I talk about runner control. It was good. Skubal will pitch this week and get another rehab start.”
What’s next for Alex Faedo?
Right-hander Alex Faedo, who completed an up-down bullpen Friday to simulate two innings, extended his right hand to show his middle fingernail.
One half of the nail is missing.
“It looks good now,” Faedo said. “It was gross.”
The 27-year-old has been on the injured list since May 31 with right middle finger discomfort, but he expects a live batting practice session to be the next step in his return to the Tigers.
Throwing changeups caused pain in his fingernail, which led to a medical procedure.
“Fastball, slider have been good,” Faedo said. “Once my finger pressure started getting better, then my fastball was fine. The changeup was the last to come, but that’s what was barking it.”
Before the injury, Faedo posted a 5.54 ERA with two walks and 26 strikeouts in 26 innings across five starts. He also started 12 games last season and logged a 5.53 ERA with 25 walks and 44 strikeouts in 53⅔ innings.
“I threw everything, and everything felt really good,” Faedo said of Friday’s up-down bullpen. “It’s been getting a lot better. Every day is a little bit better, and today was a really good day.”
Other medical updates
∙ Outfielders Akil Baddoo (right quad strain) and Riley Greene (left fibula stress reaction) continue to progress toward returning. Both left-handed hitters have been taking batting practice in the cage, playing catch on the field and doing linear-based running.
∙ Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (left index finger pulley rupture) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Saturday at Comerica Park.
∙ Right-hander Casey Mize (right elbow sprain, lumbar strain) is scheduled to throw his second short box bullpen Saturday at Comerica Park.
∙ Right-hander Spencer Turnbull (neck discomfort) continues to increase his throwing volume but hasn’t thrown a bullpen.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.