Detroit Tigers: Candelario placed on IL, Harrison out 6-8 weeks

Ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Detroit Tigers announced some roster moves concerning recent injuries.

The recent blows that have come to further disrupt the Detroit Tigers infield will end up having some longterm effects as Tigers fans realized. On Tuesday, the team announced some roster updates concerning recent injuries ahead of Tuesday night’s contest against the Rays at Comerica Park.

One of those moves is the placement of 3B Jeimer Candelario on the IL. According to the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers have decided to place the “Candy Man” on the 10-Day IL with left shoulder inflammation, the move is retroactive to June 2nd.

Through 42 games with the Detroit Tigers in 2019, Candelario is hitting just .179 with only 9 RBI. Also, this stint on the IL comes just four games after Candelario was promoted back up to the Tigers’ big league roster after a nearly two-week stay in Triple-A Toledo to “find himself.”

Speaking of infielders who have been struggling offensively, the second big injury news of the day for the Tigers came with the announcement that 2B Josh Harrison is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after having surgery on his left hamstring sometime this week, as reported by Jason Beck of MLB.com on Twitter.

The former Pittsburgh Pirate and two-time All-Star Harrison has had far from the best season of his veteran career with the Detroit Tigers in 2019. Through 36 games, Harrison has just a .176/.219/.265 hitting line and only 8 RBI. Harrison also missed significant time in late April and early May with a shoulder injury.

Tuesday was not completely negative on the injury front for the Detroit Tigers, however. Miguel Cabrera makes his return to the lineup on Tuesday night against Tampa after leaving Friday’s game in Atlanta with an apparent knee injury that required an MRI.

Cabrera’s once-heralded power at the plate is seemingly almost completely gone away as the former two-time AL MVP has just two home runs to show for so far in 2019. Miggy is still finding a way to be productive though with a .284 BA and 22 RBI this season. Cabrera will start at DH on Tuesday night, a role that Tigers fans might be seeing him in more frequently as the season goes on.

Injuries to Candelario and Harrison along with the transition of Cabrera to DH and the long absence of Jordy Mercer means the entire Opening Day infield for the Detroit Tigers is now disbanded for the time being.