Javier Báez's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (back) is still out of the team's starting lineup on Friday for the series opener against the hosting Toronto Blue Jays. Zach McKinstry will make the start at the 6 and will hit sixth for the Tigers against Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt. Baez will miss his second straight game after being held out of the lineup for the final game of the first half of the season due to a back injury. The 31-year-old still isn't ready to roll following the All-Star break, but the Tigers are hopeful that Baez can avoid going on the injured list. The Puerto Rican shortstop continues to disappoint fantasy managers and isn't even worth rostering in mixed leagues at this point. He enters the second half of 2024 with a putrid .179/.215/.244 slash line, just one home run, 25 RBI and six thefts in 59 games this year.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (back) will not start in Sunday's series finale against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers after being removed from Saturday's contest early with a lower-back injury. The struggling Baez will now have the All-Star break to rest up and could return next Friday for the start of the second half of the season. The 31-year-old Puerto Rican infielder has declined in every year since joining the Tigers in 2022 and will finish the first half with a putrid .179/.215/.244 slash line with a .459 OPS, only one home run, 25 RBI, six stolen bases and 43 strikeouts in 214 plate appearances for Detroit. He's become unplayable in all mixed fantasy leagues and hasn't shown any signs of a turnaround. Zach McKinstry will start at shortstop on Sunday and will bat in the seven-hole to close out the first half.UPDATE: There are no immediate plans to put Baez on the injured list. Manager A.J. Hinch said Baez was in better spirits on Sunday.

The Detroit Tigers reinstated infielder Javier Baez (back) from the 10-day injured list on Monday and also recalled outfielder Akil Baddoo from Triple-A Toledo. Baez will immediately return to the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the visiting Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Gavin Williams starting at shortstop and batting seventh. Baddoo will be in left field while hitting in the eight-hole. Baez will return to Detroit after missing the last month with lumbar-spine inflammation. Despite being awful at the plate again this year, the 31-year-old should see regular starts at the 6 for the Tigers moving forward. Baez has been unplayable in mixed fantasy leagues and will return to a .183/.209/.247 slash line with just one home run and six stolen bases in 53 games in 2024.

Veteran shortstop Javier Baez (back) hopes to begin a rehab assignment this coming week for the Detroit Tigers. Baez is hitting .183 with one home run, 25 RBI, and 15 runs. He is expected to report to Triple-A Toledo on Monday. Manager A.J Hinch reported that if all goes well this week, the team expects Baez back on the major league roster for the week before the All-Star break. Baez has been a disappointment for the Tigers who hope to recoup some of their investment if Baez can play better in the second half of the season.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (spine) is still rehabbing and doing baseball activity at the club's spring training facility in Tampa. Baez isn't expected to be with the Tigers on their upcoming three-city road trip, and manager AJ Hinch said on Tuesday that he's facing an "extensive" minor-league rehab assignment once he's cleared for competition. Baez is recovering from lumbar spine inflammation and is likely to remain sidelined through the mid-July All-Star break. Considering the 31-year-old former All-Star was slashing a pathetic .183/.209/.247 with one home run, 25 RBI, 15 runs scored, and six stolen bases through 186 at-bats as Detroit's primary shortstop this year, he can be left on waiver wires in the majority of fantasy leagues.