Wentz will begin the 2023 season in the Tigers' starting rotation, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports.
That's because Michael Lorenzen (groin) is headed for a season-opening stint on the 15-day injured list. Wentz might only get a couple of turns in early April, but he can look to put a good foot forward after delivering a 3.03 ERA across his first 32.2 major-league innings (seven starts) in 2022. He may have streaming appeal in deeper fantasy formats if the matchups are favorable, and he's posted 19:6 K:BB through 14.2 innings this spring, albeit with four homers allowed.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Could be spot starter
Rotowire
With Michael Lorenzen (groin) uncertain to make his final Grapefruit League start, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, Wentz could be an option to fill the fifth rotation spot to begin the regular season.
Lorenzen is projected to be the team's regular No. 5 starter, but his groin strain has his status up in the air heading into the regular season. Detroit is lined up to use its fifth starter April 4 against Houston, so Wentz or Beau Brieske may be needed if Lorenzen can't go. It seemed like Wentz was possibly ticketed for the minors out of camp, so any stay with the Tigers may be brief, though he did compile a solid 3.03 ERA across seven starts for the club last year.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: To begin year in minors?
Rotowire
Wentz seems unlikely to earn a rotation or bullpen spot with the Tigers to begin the year, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Wentz made seven starts for Detroit last year and posted a solid 3.03 ERA, but Spencer Turnbull and Matthew Boyd are back in the mix, joining Eduardo Rodriguez, Matt Manning and newcomer Michael Lorenzen. A number of those pitchers missed significant time in 2022, however, so Wentz figures to provide good insurance if a need arises in 2023. He's off the fantasy radar at the moment but could see his value rise if he gets a regular gig in the majors.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Demoted after Sunday's start
Rotowire
Wentz was optioned to Triple-A Toledo after he allowed two unearned runs on two hits and four walks over 4.2 innings Sunday against the Twins, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports. The left-hander had four strikeouts and didn't factor in the decision.
Wentz pitched well but didn't qualify for the victory since he was pulled during the fifth inning after Minnesota tallied two runs on three walks, an error and a sacrifice fly. It was the 24-year-old's final outing of the season, and he closed the campaign with a 3.03 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 27:13 K:BB across 32.2 innings. He should enter spring training with a chance to secure a rotation spot to begin 2023 after a strong showing in his first taste of the big leagues this year.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Lasts five innings in no-decision
Rotowire
Wentz allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four in five innings in a 4-3 extra-inning win Tuesday against Kansas City. He did not factor into the decision.
Wentz allowed a two-run homer in the second and an RBI triple in the fourth to account for the three runs against him. All five hits he allowed went for extra bases. The 24-year-old returned to the majors at the beginning of September and allowed just two runs in 16.1 innings over his first three starts. All in all, he has a 2.11 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB in 21.1 innings over four starts this month.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Scoreless outing in win
Rotowire
Wentz (2-2) earned the win Tuesday, allowing two hits and two walks over 5.2 scoreless innings against the Orioles. He struck out four.
The Orioles had trouble getting to Wentz on Tuesday as he held Baltimore to just five baserunners through five innings. The southpaw now has two scoreless outings and two wins in his last three starts since being recalled from the minors. He will take a 3.13 ERA into his next start.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Gets little run support in loss
Rotowire
Wentz (1-2) allowed two runs on four hits across four innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Astros. He walked one and struck out five.
Wentz needed 91 pitches to cover his four innings but managed to mostly slow down a strong Houston lineup while he was in there outside of a Kyle Tucker home run in the fourth. However, the Tigers only mustered a single run against Cristian Javier and three relievers. That saddled Wentz with the loss, though he's looked good in his two September appearances, allowing just the two runs across 10.2 innings while striking out 10 and walking two. The lefty is slated to start again Monday against the Orioles, and he's making a push to begin 2023 in the Detroit rotation as well.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Nabs another start
Rotowire
Wentz is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Astros at Comerica Park.
He'll be making his second straight turn through the rotation after striking out five Royals over 6.2 scoreless innings in his return to the big leagues last week. Unless he completely unravels against Houston, Wentz looks like he'll have the chance to finish the season as a starter for Detroit as he aims to build a case for being a full-time member of the rotation heading into 2023.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Pitches well in third start
Rotowire
Wentz (1-1) earned the win against the Royals Friday, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out five and walking one over 6.2 innings.
Wentz looked brilliant Friday, tossing 53 of 87 pitches for strikes and limiting the Royals to just three baserunners, all of whom were stranded. Wentz had not appeared in a game for the Tigers since May 31, giving up six runs across 6.2 innings in two starts before being demoted. The lefty was able to cut his ERA in half Friday, taking it to 4.05 through 13.1 frames.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Officially promoted Thursday
Rotowire
Wentz was recalled from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday.
The 24-year-old was previously announced as the starter for Friday's series opener in Kansas City, and Detroit has now officially added him to the big-league roster. Wentz made his MLB debut in May and allowed six runs over 2.2 innings, but he delivered four scoreless frames in his next outing before returning to the minors.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Joining big-league rotation
Rotowire
Wentz will be called up from Triple-A Toledo to start Friday for the Tigers in Kansas City, Adrian Garro of MLB.com reports.
Wentz is expected to stick in the rotation for a handful of starts the rest of the season, per the report. He has a 1.25 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB in 21.2 innings over his last five starts at Triple-A.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Ready to return to Triple-A
Rotowire
Wentz (shoulder) will be activated from Triple-A Toledo's 7-day injured list Wednesday to pitch in the Mud Hens' game that day against Omaha, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
According to McCosky, the Tigers plan to have Wentz make a tandem start along with Bryan Garcia, who was optioned to Triple-A earlier in the weekend. Wentz, who has been on the IL since early June with a left shoulder injury, will be rejoining Toledo after tossing three scoreless innings for High-A West Michigan on Wednesday. Wentz or Garcia could be options to rejoin the big club for its Aug. 15 doubleheader in Cleveland, when the Tigers will require a temporary sixth member of the rotation.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Starts up rehab assignment
Rotowire
Wentz (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment at High-A West Michigan on Friday.
Wentz will be cleared to move on to the final phase of his recovery program from a left shoulder injury after he faced hitters in live batting practice Tuesday. He's scheduled to work two innings for West Michigan on Friday and could make an additional appearance or two in the lower ranks of the minors before being reinstated from Triple-A Toledo's 7-day injured list.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Resumes facing hitters
Rotowire
Wentz (shoulder) threw a live batting practice session Tuesday at the Tigers' spring training complex in Florida, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Wentz has been sidelined since May 31, when he suffered a shoulder injury while making a spot start for the Tigers. Since he was optioned to Triple-A Toledo following that outing, Wentz currently resides on the affiliate's 7-day injured list rather than the Tigers' 10-day IL. Now that he's facing hitters again, Wentz could soon be cleared to head out on a rehab assignment at one of the Tigers' lower-level affiliates before he rejoins the Triple-A rotation.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: No timeline for return
Rotowire
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday that Wentz (shoulder) remains sidelined and is without a clear timeline to resume throwing, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports. "It's kind of similar to a pinched nerve," Hinch said, while describing Wentz's injury. "He's getting some sensation through the shoulder based on what's going on in his neck."
Wentz picked up the injury while making a spot start May 31 against the Twins in the second game of a doubleheader. The Tigers optioned him to Triple-A Toledo following the outing, so the organization has the luxury of proceeding slowly with his recovery without having to worry about an injured Wentz occupying a spot on the 26-man roster. Detroit has endured numerous injuries to starting pitchers this season, but with Eduardo Rodriguez (oblique) on pace to come off the 15-day injured list next week and Michael Pineda (finger) perhaps a couple weeks away from a return of his own, Wentz likely won't be in line to rejoin the big club soon even if he quickly moves past his shoulder issue.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Getting medical checkup
Rotowire
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday that Wentz will undergo further testing on his injured shoulder, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
The Tigers classified Wentz's injury as a left shoulder strain when he exited his start in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Twins after tossing four scoreless frames, but the upcoming checkup should provide more information with regard to a possible recovery timeline for the 24-year-old. Detroit had already optioned Wentz to Triple-A Toledo following Tuesday's outing, so he could be placed on the affiliate's 7-day injured list in the coming days.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Called up ahead of start
Rotowire
The Tigers recalled Wentz from Triple-A Toledo ahead of his scheduled start in the second game of the team's doubleheader with the Twins in Detroit.
Detroit is designating Wentz as its 27th man for the twin bill, so he's expected to be returned to Triple-A following Tuesday's games. The 24-year-old lefty will be looking for better results in his second MLB start, after he struggled mightily in his Tigers debut back on May 11. He lasted just 2.2 innings in a start against Oakland, giving up six earned runs on seven hits and two walks.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Set to start for Detroit on Tuesday
Rotowire
Wentz (lower leg) will be called up as the Tigers' 27th man to start the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Twins, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Wentz exited Wednesday's start at Triple-A Toledo after he was hit on the shin by a comebacker, but the injury is apparently of no concern, as he's been cleared to make his second major-league start Tuesday. The southpaw struggled in his big-league debut against the Athletics on May 11, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out one over 2.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Exits Wednesday's start
Rotowire
Wentz was removed from Wednesday's start at Triple-A Toledo after he was hit on the shin by a comebacker, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Wentz lasted five innings during his first start after being sent down, but he was removed from Wednesday's outing after just two innings. The southpaw underwent X-rays that came back negative, so manager A.J. Hinch is hopeful that Wentz isn't dealing with a significant injury.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Joey Wentz: Sent down after MLB debut
Rotowire
Wentz (0-1) was optioned to Triple-A Toledo following Wednesday's 9-0 defeat versus the A's, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports. He took the loss after giving up six runs on seven hits with two walks and one strikeout over 2.2 innings.
The 24-year-old was called up for his big-league debut Wednesday but laid an egg against Oakland, as he retired only eight of the 16 batters he faced. Wentz will return to Toledo, where he has a 4.12 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 26:10 K:BB across 19.2 innings this season.
