Kerry Carpenter's exit, Tigers’ missed opportunity vs. Royals emphasize outfield pain

The Tigers already have one walk-off win under their belt this season courtesy of Spencer Torkelson, who doubled with bases loaded to lift Detroit to a win over the White Sox on April 6, and fans at Comerica were hoping to see more of the same on Sunday, tied at three apiece with the Royals.

At the bottom of the ninth, the Nos. 9, 1, and 2 hitters coming up put the Tigers in a nice spot. Fans could've told you before Javy Báez grounded out that that was going to be an easy out for the Royals, but Gleyber Torres and Kerry Carpenter's guaranteed at-bats were a lot easier to put faith in. Carpenter was already enjoying a three-hit day, one of which scored a run.

But AJ Hinch made a change at the top of the ninth: Carpenter hit the bench, while Ryan Kreidler came off of it. In the bottom of the ninth of a tie game, it might be an understatement to say that no one wants Kreidler to be their last man up.

Báez grounded out, Torres flew out, and then Kreidler, who had a chance to be The Guy, struck out on four pitches against Carlos Estévez to send the game into extra innings.

Kerry Carpenter's early exit with hamstring issues, Ryan Kreidler's pinch at-bat made the Tigers' outfield situation look even worse

Hinch told reporters after the loss (Bobby Witt Jr. hit a sac fly in the top of the 10th that the Tigers couldn't match in the bottom of the inning) that Carpenter was pulled with hamstring soreness and would undergo further testing. He's no stranger to injury; he only played in 87 games last season before and after spending almost three months on the IL with lumbar spine inflammation.

While Carpenter is far from the strongest defensive outfielder, the Tigers need his bat in the lineup. They've already lost Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling, Wenceel Pérez, and Manuel Margot, who was specifically signed as a solution to all of those other losses.

If Carpenter joins them on the IL, then the outfield situation will look even more bleak than it already has. Zach McKinstry, Justyn-Henry Malloy, and maybe even Báez could get more time in the outfield, but Kreidler is basically a lock to play center field most often (and he's batting .105 with a .295 OPS through 17 games).

The prayer circle for Kerry Carpenter's right hamstring starts now.