Detroit Tigers DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Detroit Tigers right-handers Sawyer Gipson-Long (hip, elbow) and Ty Madden (shoulder) are both scheduled to throw bullpen sessions on Saturday. Gipson-Long is recovering from a left-hip labral repair and right-UCL reconstruction, while Madden is rehabbing from a right-shoulder strain. Meanwhile, right-hander Jose Urquidy (elbow) is playing catch out to 105 feet three times a week as he recovers from right-UCL reconstruction. Gipson-Long is on the 60-day injured list after having Tommy John surgery last April and hip surgery last July. Barring a setback, the 27-year-old won't be an option for the Tigers until around the All-Star break in mid-July. Madden, 25, suffered a right rotator-cuff strain in spring training and won't be able to return until at least the end of May while on the 60-day IL.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Perez (back) received the second of two scheduled cortisone injections on Friday, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. Perez was forced to the injured list to begin the 2025 season due to lumbar-spine inflammation, and there's currently no timetable for his return. With no clear picture on when he might be able to make his season debut, the 25-year-old most likely won't come off the IL until May. When he is healthy, expect him to be an option for a platoon role in center field with Parker Meadows (arm) also out for the foreseeable future. The switch-hitting Dominican can be left to the waiver wire in mixed leagues for now. Last year was his first year in the big leagues, and he hit .242/.300/.383 with a .683 OPS, nine home runs, 37 RBI and nine steals in 112 games played.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter showed his power in Friday's 7-4 win over the division-rival Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park by going 2-for-5 with two solo home runs and a strikeout. The home runs were Carpenter's first of the 2025 season, and he's now hitting .261 with an .815 OPS in the early going for fantasy managers. The 27-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder played in only 87 games in 2024 due to injuries, but when he was available, he was a consistent producer with a .284/.345/.587 slash line, career-high .932 OPS, 18 home runs, 57 RBI and 37 runs scored in 296 plate appearances. Carpenter's lack of success against left-handed pitching is a problem, though, and it affects his overall fantasy upside for those that have him rostered in mixed leagues.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling (shoulder) is not yet throwing, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Stavenhagen notes that Vierling is hitting BP, conditioning, and running defensive drills daily but has yet to progress to throwing. This spring, Vierling was limited to just two at-bats after falling victim to a rotator cuff strain. The Tigers are short-staffed in the outfield right now, with teammates Parker Meadows (arm), Wenceel Perez (back), and Akil Baddoo (wrist) all dinged up with their respective injuries. Vierling was expected to rejoin the team by the end of April, which remains a possibility. However, he still has a few milestones to check off before he returns to in-game action. The 28-year-old will undergo an MRI in the coming days to check the status of his shoulder.

Detroit Tigers third baseman prospect Jace Jung smacked his second home run of 2025 in a 2-for-4 day at the plate for Triple-A Toledo. The 24-year-old also tripled and drew a walk in the contest. The left-handed slugger is 5-for-15 (.333) to begin the 2025 campaign, with four of his five hits going for extra bases. The Texas Tech product has also walked seven times, compared to six strikeouts, giving him a .545 OBP. The Tigers' seventh-ranked prospect debuted with the club last year and held his own, slashing .241/.362/.304, but with no home runs. With a career 15.7 percent walk rate in the minors, Jung would be viable for fantasy if he can get the power to come aroundthe next time he gets the call to the majors, however, he'll be a zero in the stolenbase department, and a high strikeout rate may limit any upside. Regardless, look for him to be back with Detroit in 2025.