Tigers lose Báez (ankle sprain), Mize (adductor strain) to injured list

ATLANTA -- The Tigers will be without two key pieces for the next few weeks after placing Javier Báez on the 10-day injured list and Casey Mize on the 15-day injured list.

Báez (right ankle sprain) and Mize (right adductor strain) both sustained their injuries in the Tigers’ 5-2 loss to the Braves on Tuesday, dealing a blow to Detroit’s infield and pitching staff.

Mize’s injury surfaced first. The right-hander showed discomfort after a strikeout in the second inning and exited the game after making a throw to first base in the third.

He becomes the eighth Tigers pitcher on the IL and the second member of the club’s Opening Day rotation sidelined, joining Justin Verlander, who was placed on the IL on April 4 with left hip inflammation.

“Probably the most optimistic news we can get on Casey, that it's a Grade 1. That it was mild, but that coming off the hill and just the lower body injury, you’re not going to have him make his start in four days,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Detroit's second game vs. Atlanta Wednesday. “So hopefully that's as simple as time heals that, and he'll continue his arm moving and things like that.”

Báez was injured later in the game on a play at first base. After making soft contact on a ball in the fifth inning, Báez raced down the line and slid feet-first into first base, his right cleat appeared to stick in the dirt, and he immediately went down in pain.

“Javy’s [injury] is a pretty significant ankle sprain, so I don't know what that means in terms of timeline, other than it's a minimum of 15 days and if he's back by then, that's great. If it takes longer, it's because of swelling and soreness,” Hinch said. “He was moving around a little bit better today, but clearly not available to play today or in the coming days.”

The loss of Báez creates a challenge on the infield. Kevin McGonigle is now the only healthy shortstop on the roster until Zach McKinstry returns from left hip/abdominal inflammation. Hao-Yu Lee, the club’s No. 6 prospect, is another short-term option after being called up following McKinstry’s injury.

“I'd like to play Kevin there as much as possible. Obviously, Hao-Yu Lee has played there in the past, [but] we're not in an ideal situation,” Hinch said.

Hinch also said that there is no plan to accelerate McKinstry’s rehab despite the need.

“Going into his game progression, which is in the coming days, we'll watch him, listen to him [and] see how he's moving. But we need to isolate that away from the need right now, and at a minimum, he's going to play a few games,” Hinch said. “We need to pay attention to Zach's rehab and not fast forward to make us feel better on paper, but not functionally better.”

The same approach applies to Verlander, who will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday.

To fill the open roster spots, the Tigers recalled left-hander Enmanuel De Jesus and infielder Jace Jung from Triple-A Toledo.

Jung was inserted into the lineup as the designated hitter and brings a left-handed bat, which could be beneficial against Atlanta’s starter JR Ritchie for Wednesday’s game. He has appeared in 55 Major League games across two seasons, posting a .190/.315/.230 slash line, and impressed during Spring Training, collecting 13 hits and batting .325 in 40 at-bats.

“[My spring] was very productive. I did a lot of good things. I turned a lot of heads. And so now just trying to continue that success, and get back to doing what I did there,” Jung said. “My main goal this offseason was trying to make the team. It didn't work out, but that's OK. I did everything I possibly could to make the team, and at the end of the day, the only thing I can put on myself is knowing that I did everything in my human nature.”

De Jesus returns to the bullpen after making the Opening Day roster and pitching eight innings with nine strikeouts. He was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on April 22, where he allowed one hit across two innings in his lone appearance.

Because he is replacing an injured player, De Jesus was eligible to return before the standard 15-day waiting period for pitchers.