About that 10-9 game on Monday: Dillon Dingler put up 4 hits and 4 RBI, Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene went deep, and the Tigers actually went back-to-back-to-back in the third. Then they nearly coughed it up when the Rays batted around for 4 in the eighth. Carpenter's 2-run double in the top half is the only reason Detroit's flight home is calm. Will Vest got his first save of the year to lock it down.
Tampa Bay isn't exactly whole right now either. Taylor Walls came out of Monday's game in the third with left hamstring tightness and is day-to-day, and Chandler Simpson is expected back after taking one to the mouth. Craig Kimbrel hit the 15-day IL Sunday with a wrist strain, which thins out a bullpen that already gave up double digits to the Tigers.
- Day-To-DayDugan Darnell (RP) — The Tigers announced Sunday that Darnell (hip) has been playing catch five times a week and is also taking part in a running progression, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayJosue Briceno (C) — Briceno said Friday that he expects to be sidelined a few months after having surgery Wednesday to repair a tendon in his right wrist, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILGleyber Torres (2B) — Torres (oblique) has joined the Tigers at Tropicana Field on Monday and could be activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game versus the Rays, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.06/01
- 10-Day-ILJavier Baez (SS) — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Baez is scheduled to meet with a specialist in the near future for further evaluation on his sprained right ankle, which hasn't healed as quickly as the team hoped, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.05/26
- 15-Day-ILTarik Skubal (SP) — Skubal (elbow) worked four innings in a simulated game Monday at Tropicana Field, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.06/01
- 15-Day-ILCasey Mize (SP) — Mize (groin) played catch Thursday and is still waiting on the results of his MRI, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.05/29
- 15-Day-ILKenley Jansen (RP) — Jansen is awaiting results of an MRI on his right groin, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.05/28
- 15-Day-ILBurch Smith (RP) — Smith has been diagnosed with right shoulder soreness and received a cortisone injection Friday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.05/22
- 60-Day-ILJustin Verlander (SP) — Verlander (hip) tossed a bullpen session Saturday in Chicago, MLB.com reports.05/31
- 60-Day-ILBrant Hurter (RP) — The Tigers placed Hurter on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to lumbar spine inflammation.05/29
- 60-Day-ILBailey Horn (RP) — Horn (elbow) began a throwing progression May 14, MLB.com reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILJackson Jobe (SP) — Jobe (elbow) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.05/20
- 60-Day-ILTrey Sweeney (SS) — The Tigers transferred Sweeney (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILReese Olson (SP) — The Tigers placed Olson on the 60-day injured list Tuesday after he underwent a right shoulder labral repair Feb. 2 that will result in him missing the 2026 season.05/08
- 60-Day-ILParker Meadows (CF) — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Meadows underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a left radius fracture and will be sidelined "multiple months," Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayChandler Simpson (LF) — Manager Kevin Cash said after Monday's 10-9 loss to the Tigers that Simpson (mouth) is expected to play Tuesday against Detroit, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.06/02
- Day-To-DayTaylor Walls (SS) — Walls (hamstring) was removed from Monday's game against the Tigers in the third inning for precautionary reasons due to tightness in his left hamstring, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.06/02
- Day-To-DayAustin Vernon (RP) — The Rays have shut Vernon down from throwing due to right elbow soreness, per MLB.com.05/08
- Day-To-DayTre' Morgan (1B) — Triple-A Durham placed Morgan on the 7-day injured list with a quad injury, Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayAlfredo Zarraga (RP) — no05/08
- 10-Day-ILJonny DeLuca (RF) — DeLuca is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks after an MRI revealed a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.05/25
- 10-Day-ILJake Fraley (RF) — Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that Fraley (hernia) will require surgery and will face a recovery timeline of 6-to-8 weeks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.05/18
- 15-Day-ILCraig Kimbrel (RP) — The Rays placed Kimbrel on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right wrist strain.05/31
- 15-Day-ILJesse Scholtens (RP) — Scholtens was charged with a blown save and dropped to 5-3 on the season in Monday's 9-7 loss to the Orioles in 13 innings after yielding five runs (three earned) on four hits across 1.1 frames. He struck out one batter.05/27
- 60-Day-ILManuel Rodriguez (RP) — Rodriguez (elbow) has no timetable to progress to facing live hitters, MLB.com reports.05/30
- 60-Day-ILSteven Wilson (RP) — The Rays hope Wilson (back) will be able to start bullpen sessions June 8, MLB.com reports.05/30
- 60-Day-ILEdwin Uceta (RP) — Manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Uceta (shoulder) suffered a setback and received a PRP injection, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.05/29
- 60-Day-ILMichael Grove (RP) — Grove (shoulder) started a rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League Rays on Saturday.05/28
- 60-Day-ILGavin Lux (LF) — The Rays transferred Lux (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/27
- 60-Day-ILRyan Pepiot (SP) — Pepiot will undergo surgery on his right hip May 13 and miss the rest of the 2026 season, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.05/08
The Tigers are running out a roster duct-taped together — Skubal, Mize, Olson, Jobe and Verlander are all on the shelf, Báez is seeing a specialist on that ankle, and Gleyber Torres could finally be activated off the IL for this one. That's basically a rotation and an infield of replacements behind a guy whose record screams 'never bet on me' and whose strikeout numbers say otherwise.
Total is 8.5 (over -102 / under -112) and it's tough to argue with that after Monday's 19-run circus, especially with two starters who've been hittable. Rays are favored for a reason — they've been the better team for 2 months — but if Flaherty's run support shows up again, the dog-with-the-ace-pitcher trope plays. Worth a watch either way.