CLEVELAND -- The Tigers headed into the opener of their critical three-game series against the Guardians without the services of Javier Báez, who was a late scratch from Tuesday’s lineup due to neck stiffness.
Báez was scheduled to start at shortstop and bat ninth against Guardians starter Gavin Williams. Trey Sweeney started at shortstop in his place.
"He took ground balls earlier today and just felt a little bit uncomfortable," manager A.J. Hinch said prior to the Tigers' 5-2 loss to Cleveland. "And with the importance of the game, he wasn't sure he could make all the plays. So he's day to day. I think he got some treatment during the game. I haven't made the lineup for [Wednesday] yet. I may give him another day just to wait for the lefties that are coming up on the back end of this series and in Boston."
The Tigers are already short in the infield after third baseman Colt Keith went on the injured list Friday with right rib cage inflammation. Zach McKinstry, who had been sharing time at shortstop, has been playing more at third base since Keith’s injury, leading to three consecutive starts for Báez at short during last weekend’s series against the Braves after he played in just one of Detroit's three games against the Guardians at Comerica Park early last week.
Though Sweeney entered Tuesday batting just .197/.255/.293 this season, he hit a big home run in Cleveland in July, supplying a go-ahead three-run homer off Cade Smith in the finale to send the Tigers to a series sweep.