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Tigers' Javier Baez: Expected back in lineup Saturday
Rotowire
Baez (back) is expected back in the Tigers' Grapefruit League lineup Saturday versus the Pirates, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Baez hasn't played since being scratched from Tuesday's lineup with lower-back tightness. However, he'll go through a full workout Friday and, if all goes well, will be back in action this weekend.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Scratched with back tightness
Rotowire
Baez was scratched from Tuesday's exhibition game versus Team Dominican Republic due to lower-back tightness.
Baez should be considered day-to-day for the time being. Max Clark subbed in for Baez in center field in the Tigers' lineup Tuesday.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Hits first spring home run
Rotowire
Baez went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
Baez has now gone 4-for-7 through three spring games, and his home run Friday was his first of the exhibition slate. Earlier this month, the veteran was suspended from the World Baseball Classic for testing positive for marijuana in March 2023. The WBC's governing body classifies marijuana as a banned substance, but Major League Baseball does not, so his status with the Tigers is unaffected. Baez looks like Detroit's primary shortstop to begin the year, though he could also move into a utility role and play some in center, particularly if top prospect Kevin McGonigle makes a push for the role at short. The 33-year-old had something of a bounce-back campaign in 2025, but his fantasy value overall has been trending down across his four seasons with the Tigers.
Tigers' Javier Baez: WBC ban won't affect MLB status
Rotowire
Baez has been suspended from the World Baseball Classic for testing positive for marijuana in March 2023, but the suspension will not affect his availability for the start of spring training, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
The World Baseball-Softball Confederation -- which governs the WBC -- classifies marijuana as a banned substance, hence the suspension. He will be eligible to play again for Team Puerto Rico in the 2029 WBC. Major League Baseball does not list it as a banned substance, so Baez's status with the Tigers is unaffected. The 33-year-old Baez is expected to be the Opening Day shortstop in 2026, though he will have to hold off top prospect Kevin McGonigle for the gig.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Plates four runs in Game 4
Rotowire
Baez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, two additional RBI and a stolen base during Wednesday's win over the Mariners in Game 4 of the ALDS.
Baez smacked an RBI single into left field to tie the game at 3-3 in the fifth inning. He then deposited an Eduard Bazardo offering into the left-field bleachers during the sixth to give the Tigers two more insurance runs en route to a convincing 9-3 victory. The 32-year-old is now 9-for-26 (.346) with a homer, five RBI and two runs scored through seven games in the postseason.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Homers in regular-season finale
Rotowire
Baez went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox.
Baez provided Detroit's offense on the afternoon, hitting his 12th home run of the season in the fourth inning with two runners on. While the veteran cooled down some after a strong start to the year, he still put together a bounceback campaign following a disastrous 2024. Baez wraps up his regular season with a .257/.282/.398 slash line across 126 games.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: In Thursday's lineup
Rotowire
Baez (neck) will start at shortstop and bat ninth Thursday against the Guardians.
Baez sat out the Tigers' last two games while dealing with neck stiffness, but he'll return in time to start a pivotal contest against Cleveland in the race for the AL Central title. The 32-year-old has been struggling offensively since the beginning of the month, going just 3-for-27 (.111) and posting a .323 OPS over 12 games.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Remains out of lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
Baez (neck) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Baez was originally in Tuesday's lineup against Cleveland but was scratched ahead of the first pitch due to neck stiffness. He evidently needs another day, and Trey Sweeney is manning shortstop for the Tigers and batting ninth.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Scratched with neck stiffness
Rotowire
Baez was scratched from the lineup ahead of Tuesday's game versus Cleveland due to neck stiffness.
Baez will take a day off to rehab his neck injury, opening up an opportunity for Trey Sweeney to start at shortstop and bat ninth for the Tigers.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Getting third straight start
Rotowire
Baez will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Sunday's game against Atlanta.
Baez will be making his third consecutive start after going 1-for-6 at the dish over the first two contests of the series. With Colt Keith (rib) recently landing on the injured list, Zach McKinstry will likely platoon at third base with Andy Ibanez for the remainder of the regular season, leaving Baez to handle shortstop.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Goes hitless in lineup return
Rotowire
Baez (head) started at shortstop and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Guardians in 10 innings.
Baez rejoined the starting nine Tuesday for the first time since exiting last Friday's 8-2 loss to the Marlins after fouling a ball off his head. The 32-year-old passed all concussion testing following his departure and seemingly avoided any serious injury, as he was used off the bench a day later. Since making his third All-Star appearance in mid-July, Baez is slashing just .210/.219/.298 and appears to have settled back into a part-time role at both shortstop and in center field.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Exits with injury
Rotowire
Baez was removed from Friday's game against the Marlins after fouling a ball off his head, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
An awkward swing from Baez in the second inning resulted in the ball deflecting off his forehead, immediately prompting his removal from the game. The Tigers will almost certainly evaluate the 32-year-old for a concussion; meanwhile, Trey Sweeney will take over as Detroit's shortstop.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Playing time slipping
Rotowire
Baez is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Mets.
Baez has now started just three of the last eight games and two of the last seven versus right-handed pitching. He's slashing .224/.229/.308 with a 1:36 BB:K in the second half. Trey Sweeney will play shortstop and Wenceel Perez will be in center field for the Tigers on Tuesday.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Resting Saturday
Rotowire
Baez isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Kansas City.
After collecting a base hit and scoring a run during Friday's win, Baez will retreat to the dugout Saturday with Riley Greene, Wenceel Perez and Kerry Carpenter in the outfield for the Tigers.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Sitting down Wednesday
Rotowire
Baez isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics.
Baez will take a seat Wednesday after going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in Tuesday's loss. While he rests, Riley Greene, Wenceel Perez and Kerry Carpenter will start across the outfield for Detroit.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Absent from starting lineup
Rotowire
Baez isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Athletics, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Baez will begin Monday's matchup on the bench, which allows Trey Sweeney to start at shortstop and Wenceel Perez to man center field. Baez appears to be in need of a reset after going 4-for-22 with two RBI, two runs scored and seven strikeouts over his last seven games.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Drives in two Wednesday
Rotowire
Baez went 2-for-3 with two RBI in Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Astros.
Baez snapped a three-game hitless streak with his fifth multi-hit performance of the month. He's been solid overall in August, posting a .291 batting average, a home run, a stolen base and 10 RBI across 17 games. An infielder by trade, Baez has been seeing most of his time in center field recently with Matt Vierling (oblique) and Parker Meadows (quad) both on the injured list, though the former did start Wednesday's contest at shortstop before later moving to center.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Taking seat Tuesday
Rotowire
Baez is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Astros.
Baez has a .557 OPS and 0:33 BB:K since the beginning of July and has been seeing more days on the bench since then. The Tigers will deploy Wenceel Perez in center field and Trey Sweeney at shortstop Tuesday.
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