The Tigers are anticipated to reinstate first baseman Triston Casas from the 60-day injured checklist at the moment, studies MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. The slugger must be again within the lineup for tonight’s matchup with the Orioles and ace Corbin Burnes.
Casas, 24, had a gradual begin in 2023 earlier than discovering his stride with a breakout five-month end to final season. He largely picked up the place he left off early in 2024, popping six homers in 90 plate appearances and slashing .244/.344/.513 earlier than sustaining fractures on the left facet of his ribcage and enduring a prolonged shutdown from baseball actions. The Sox have eased Casas again into motion with an 11-game run in Triple-A Worcester, throughout which he’s turned in a hearty .300/.404/.550 slash in 47 journeys to the plate.
The return of Casas ought to present a thunderous boon to a Sox lineup that has acquired middling manufacturing from Dominic Smith in his absence. Smith hasn’t been an abject legal responsibility however has turned in a tepid .237/.317/.390 batting line that checks in 5% worse than league common, by measure of wRC+. Others like Romy Gonzalez, Garrett Cooper and Bobby Dalbec have crammed in at instances however have struggled to supply total. (Cooper is not with the group.)
Whereas Casas’ return isn’t more likely to flip the tides within the division race — not less than circuitously, although he may actually impression the Orioles/Yankees battle for first place — he may very a lot be a difference-maker in Boston’s pursuit of a Wild Card berth. The Pink Sox are eight video games behind the Yankees and O’s, who’re tied for the AL East lead, however they’re a extra manageable 2.5 video games again within the hunt for the third Wild Card slot. Getting a authentic 30-homer bat again into the center of the lineup — Casas has popped 30 homers whereas batting .260/.363/.493 in 154 video games courting again to final season — has main ramifications for the rest of the Pink Sox’ schedule.
Casas is on the 60-day injured checklist, so Boston might want to make a corresponding 40-man roster transfer with a view to reinstate their prized younger slugger. They don’t have an apparent candidate to switch him on the 60-day IL, until they’ve rapidly decided that James Paxton’s partial calf tear is certainly a season-ender, so a DFA or waiver placement could possibly be within the offing.