The Detroit Tigers will look to continue their Cinderella postseason run in 2024 as they take on the Cleveland Guardians in game 5 of the American League Division Series on Saturday.
With the series tied 2-2, the winner of this game will advance to the American League Championship Series to take on the New York Yankees in a 7-game series that would begin Monday.
Along with the bad news that they lost game 4 on Thursday, the Tigers also received some bad news regarding an important piece of their lineup in Kerry Carpenter.
Carpenter left the game Thursday with an injury and was replaced by Jace Jung.
According to MLB insider Jason Beck on ‘X,’ Carpenter left with a hamstring injury and will test it out Friday and Saturday before the Tigers decide his status for Saturday’s game 5.
Kerry Carpenter will test out his hamstring today and tomorrow before Tigers decide his status for Game 5.
“We’re gonna take as much time as we can to see what he can and can’t handle,” A.J. Hinch said.
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) October 11, 2024
In the first 4 games of the series against the Guardians, Carpenter has 3 hits in 10 at-bats with 1 home run, 3 runs batted in, 2 runs scored, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts.
The big 3-run home run that Carpenter hit in game 2 sealed that victory for the Tigers.
His home run was accountable for the only runs scored in the game as the Tigers took the win by a score of 3-0, and he also hit the home run against arguably the game’s best and most dominant closer.
If Carpenter is unable to play in game 5, it will be a huge blow to this lineup which lacks a superstar player.
The Tigers will rely on Tarik Skubal to shut down the Guardians and hope that their offense can push past a few runs to secure a victory.
NEXT: Insider Reveals Injury Update On Jake Rogers