Kerry

Carpenter

Carpenter punctuated a three-run rally off of Bryan Woo in the third inning with a 347-foot (95.2-mph EV) two-run shot to right field. The 28-year-old slugger also struck out twice in the ballgame, finishing the night 1-for-4. On the season, he’s now slashing .239/.308/.504 with eight homers and 22 RBI in 133 plate appearances.

The 28-year-old slugger returns to a struggling Tigers’ lineup after just two minor league rehab games at Triple-A Toledo. He’ll serve as the team’s designated hitter and bat cleanup against Sean Burke for Sunday’s series finale against the White Sox in Chicago. Before landing on the injured list, Carpenter was hitting .216/.299/.451 with six homers and 17 RBI in his first 117 plate appearances.

It sounded like the original plan was to activate him Monday, but now Carpenter, on the IL with a strained shoulder, could rejoin the Tigers on Sunday. Gage Workman, Zack Short and Hao-Yu Lee are probably the candidates to be replaced on the Tigers’ roster. One will go for Carpenter, and another figures to exit to make room for Gleyber Torres sometime soon.

The 28-year-old slugger has been shelved since May 10 due to a sprained left shoulder. The Tigers’ offense has floundered miserably over the past few weeks, so a quick return to action would definitely help the cause. Expect him to remain there through the weekend and if all goes well he could be ready to return for Monday’s series opener against the Rays in Tampa Bay.

Gage Workman is replacing him on the roster. Carpenter was hurt Saturday while running into the side wall down the right field line on Bobby Witt Jr.'s inside-the-park homer. The Tigers will probably give Colt Keith more time at DH with Carpenter out, which would open up starts for Workman at third. Wenceel Pérez is also in line for some extra at-bats as a right fielder.

Carpenter was hurt running into the side wall on Bobby Witt Jr.'s inside-the-park homer and is probably going to be day-to-day. It might be best if he DH’s a little bit, opening up some more starts for Wenceel Pérez.

Carpenter might have been hurt running into the side wall down the right field line while bungling Bobby Witt Jr.'s inside-the-park homer. Wenceel Pérez replaced him.

As is often the case, Carpenter and Colt Keith find themselves starting on the bench against an opposing left-hander, in this case it’s MacKenzie Gore taking the hill for the Rangers. Jahmai Jones will start in his place in left field and will bat third for the Tigers on Friday evening in Motown.

The Tigers held a 5-3 advantage in the seventh inning when a lengthy rain delay struck. When play resumed, the Reds struck for four runs in the home half of the seventh to take a 7-5 advantage. The Tigers stormed right back in the eighth as Spencer Torkelson crushed a solo homer to pull the Tigers within a run. Carpenter then launched a first-pitch fastball from Tony Santillan for a go-ahead 368-foot (97.8 mph EV) two-run shot. He finished the evening 1-for-2. On the season, the 28-year-old slugger is slashing just .221/.321/.500 with six homers and 15 RBI.

The homer came in the eighth inning and gave Detroit an insurance run entering the final frame. Wednesday’s game was the first this season in which Carpenter started against a left-hander, even if it was a multi-inning opener scenario ahead of Chad Patrick. Carpenter now has five homers on the year, but he’s striking out over 36 percent of the time early on.