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Detroit Tigers Activate Torres While Trailing by 4½ Games in AL Wild-Card Race
The Detroit Tigers are 4½ games out of the AL wild-card race and 6½ games behind the White Sox in the AL Central with the August 3 trade deadline approaching. Manager A.J. Hinch said the team has treated every game like a playoff contest since May while focusing on wins to retain pitcher Tarik Skubal.
Jul 20, 11:28 PM·1m read1 source
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The Detroit Tigers are pressing to close the gap in both the AL wild-card race and the AL Central before the August 3 trade deadline, ESPN reported. Manager A.J. Hinch said the club understands that sustained July wins are required to keep All-Star left-hander Tarik Skubal.
Skubal posted a 2.97 ERA across seven starts since returning from a six-week elbow injury. The Tigers entered Monday 4½ games behind the final wild-card spot and 6½ games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox. FanGraphs assigned Detroit a 16 percent chance of winning the AL Central.
Hinch described the team's approach before Monday's game against the Cubs. "We've been playing Game 7 since May," he said. "We know what the conversation around our team is. " The Tigers have faced the fewest divisional opponents among AL Central clubs, which Hinch said leaves room for a stronger finish against division foes.
"We're taking it with open arms, that it's part of our identity," he said of the trade speculation. " Veteran infielder Gleyber Torres was activated from the injured list on Monday. Infielder/outfielder Javier Baez is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Class-A Lakeland on Tuesday.
"I'll ease him back in," Hinch said of Torres.
