DETROIT ― The Tigers’ twice-weekly medical update brought mostly good news.
For starters, All-Star outfielder Riley Greene did base running drills before the game Friday, Aug. 28, which is typically the last set of drills players with leg injuries have to clear before starting a rehab assignment.
“Riley is doing really well,” manager AJ Hinch said. “He’s advanced to a lot of activity. I don’t want to say this is checking the final box, but it’s as close to saying that as I can.”
Greene has been out since Aug. 12 with a right hamstring strain. Hinch said the hope would be to get Greene into a game with Triple-A Toledo on Saturday or Sunday.
“We’re trying to beat Monday,” Hinch said. “Monday is an off-day for the minor leagues. We’re going to see if we can get him in a game this weekend. That is great news.”
The Mud Hens are playing in St. Paul this weekend. The Tigers, who are 3-12 since Greene went out, start a series against the Twins in Minneapolis on Monday.
Hinch also gave an optimistic update on right-hander Justin Verlander, who has been out since April, first with left hip soreness and then a left hamstring strain.
“Today is as encouraged as I’ve heard him since the latest injury,” Hinch said. “He and I both are sensitive to the head fake again. We’ve gotten really close (to getting back) twice and it didn’t work. But I sense him building toward something positive and he is going to be able to make at least one appearance.”
Verlander has begun throwing off the slope and is close to beginning a series of bullpen sessions.
“The way he described it, it’s almost a bullpen,” Hinch said. “He’s letting it go a little and he’s getting off the slope, which is important because it changes the angle of everything. It is a step forward from just playing catch.”
Verlander, who is the game’s active wins and strikeouts leader, already has announced that he will retire after this season.
“I don’t think he wanted to announce his plans and then just ride out the season with no time on the field,” Hinch said. “I’m sure he wants multiple appearances to cap what’s been an historic career. But right now, we’re just not at the point where we can pencil anything in. And even when we can, we’re going to wait some extra time just to make sure there’s not another setback.”
Hinch said pitcher Jack Flaherty will throw another bullpen this weekend and depending on how that goes, he could start throwing to hitters in a live bullpen session.
“His last bullpen exceeded expectations in terms of his ability to hold his velocity, be normal and just pitch,” Hinch said.
As for outfielder Kerry Carpenter, who remains out with plantar fasciitis, Hinch said he is expected to get out of the protective boot soon.
And the one piece of bad news: Outfielder Matt Vierling has had a setback.
Out since July 30 with a left adductor strain, Vierling was getting close to starting a rehab assignment. But he’s been shut down with soreness in his heel.
“He’s going to need extra time,” Hinch said. “He is being evaluated as we speak.”
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers give encouraging updates on Riley Greene, Justin Verlander
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