Tigers expecting Javier Báez to be active, available vs. Orioles

Detroit — Barring any unforeseen, last-second snag, Javier Báez is back.

“I’m anticipating him being available to us today in the big leagues,” manager AJ Hinch said on his weekly segment on MLB Radio.

Báez, 33, hasn’t played since severely spraining his ankle ducking and half-sliding trying to avoid a tag at first base in the Tigers’ 5-2 loss at Atlanta on April 28.

“I don’t know how I didn’t break it,” Báez said that night after preliminary imaging showed no fracture.

But it was a high-ankle sprain and the recovery process was slow. After having to be shut down from baseball activity for a stretch last month, he’s been on a fast track back. He made two rehab starts at Low-A Lakeland before being transferred to Triple-A Toledo over the weekend.

All he did there was go 5 for 8 with three doubles in two games, playing six innings at shortstop and six innings in center field.

With the Tigers taking a three-game losing streak into the game against the Orioles on Tuesday, it’s a good time to add a jolt of El Mago.

“He’s always had an immense impact on our whole vibe,” Hinch said Saturday. “He’s an energy-provider, somebody you look forward to every day. And from a manager’s perpective, I can move him around the field and he does incredible things on the field. His impact is felt from the minute he walks through the door all the way to the end of the game.

“You never know what he’s going to bring that day that is going to spark you.”

The Tigers have yet to announce a corresponding move to get Báez back on both the active and 40-man rosters. Center fielder James Outman is a likely candidate. He’s been a valuable boost to the outfield, defensively, but he continues to struggle at the plate.

The Tigers have gone 20-13 since they acquired Outman from the Twins, but despite hitting four homers, he’s slashing .157/.202/.315 with 41 strikeouts in 94 plate appearances.

He is out of minor-league options, so he would have to be designated for assignment.  

“Seeing Javy healthy is awesome,” Hinch said. “Seeing him truly back to being on this team will be great. … I love Javy and I always have. He is someone we’ve missed, just day to day.”

This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.

Tigers vs. Orioles

▶ First pitch: 1:10 p.m. Wednesday, Comerica Park, Detroit

▶ TV/radio: Detroit Sports Net/97.1 FM

Scouting report

▶ LHP Trevor Rogers (6-7, 4.17), Orioles: The Tigers beat him at Camden Yards on May 23, but he has been on a heater. The Orioles are 5-2 in his last seven starts and he’s allowed just seven earned runs in 43.2 innings (1.44 ERA). In that stretch, he blanked the Dodgers on one hit over seven innings, allowed a run in six innings to the Cubs, beat the Astros in Houston (one run, 6.1 innings) and limited the Braves to two runs in seven innings. From a funky, 23-degree arm angle, he throws changeups, sweepers, sinkers and cutters off a 93-94 mph four-seamer and he’s got a 34.7% chase rate.

▶ LHP Tarik Skubal (7-5, 2.70), Tigers: His 12-strikeout performance against the Royals on Friday left him one strikeout short of 1,000 for his career. If this is his final start as a Tiger, he’s goinag to leave behind quite a legacy. Two Cy Young awards, two playoff runs, a pitching triple crown, a 61-42 record (34-17 at Comerica Park), 3.04 ERA, 1.014 WHIP, 29% strikeout rate and a 5.4% walk rate. It’ll be a while before we see the likes of him again.

Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com

@cmccosky

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers expecting Javier Báez to be active, available vs. Orioles