Tigers injury update: Jack Flaherty's next start in question, Kerry Carpenter's rehab

The Detroit Tigers have been bitten pretty hard by the injury bug of late. The Tigers had to recalled right-handed pitcher Mason Englert from Triple-A Toledo earlier this week after Alex Faedo landed on the 15-day IL.

Englert has to be feeling like a yo-yo about now. The 24-year-old was just sent back to the minor leagues earlier this week after Shelby Miller was reinstated from the 15-day IL following right ulnar nerve inflammation. Englert will undoubtedly fall back into his role in the Tigers' bullpen.

Tigers injury update: Jack Flaherty's next start in question

But the bigger injury news to come out of the Tigers clubhouse on Friday came after starting pitcher Jack Flaherty experienced discomfort in his lower back after his last start. Flaherty underwent imaging on Thursday, and was on the field for pregame workouts, but his next start is up in the air.

Flaherty is 3-4 on the year with a 3.22 ERA and 94 punch outs in his 12 starts. The right-hander last toed the rubber on June 4 against the Texas Rangers and isn't scheduled to start this weekend. Flaherty should be in line to start on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday at Comerica Park, but it's definitely a situation to monitor.

Tigers injury update: Kenta Maeda undergoing further evaluation

After Kenta Maeda left his most recent start after two pitches with tightness around his rib cage, Tigers fans feared that he'd be back on the IL. Maeda was just activated a couple of weeks back after battling an illness earlier last month.

The Tigers right-hander is undergoing further imaging to see if the medical staff can determine the root cause of Maeda's ailment. Maeda is scheduled to play catch on the field prior to Friday's game, so the injury likely isn't too severe.

Tigers injury update: Kerry Carpenter rehabbing, but not on 60-day IL (yet)

Tigers fans are hopeful to see Kerry Carpenter avoid the 60-day IL. So far, so good on that front. But the Detroit faithful may not want to get their hopes up based on the diagnosis. The Tigers' outfielder suffered, what was originally labeled as lower back soreness, but as it turns out, Carpenter suffered a lumbar spine stress fracture.

The Tigers still haven't given a timeline for Carpenter's return — hoping that moving him to the 60-day IL is unwarranted. Carpenter is continuing to rehab from the injury and TIgers fans are hopeful that the variable time window is moved up and not back.

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