RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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DETROIT — Riley Greene is showing patience, wants to do all the right things and heal just right, but it's not easy.
Not when the Tigers are struggling, losing games, and Greene wants to get back in the lineup.
"I just have to not rush it," Greene said Tuesday, Aug. 25, of a hamstring injury that has him on the injured list , but is trending to return soon. "We have a month a couple of days of baseball left, of the regular season, and I just want to finish and try to help the team in any way I can."
Greene left the Aug. 11 game against Cleveland with the injury and was placed on the injured list the next day. But as Tuesday's workout showed, a return is imminent, which is good news for the slumping Tigers.
Greene took batting practice in the cage, did straight-line running, and showed as much progress as he's had since getting hurt.
"I'm feeling good, I just have to check off some boxes and see how I feel," said Greene, who isn't speculating on when he might return to the lineup. "I don't know, we'll see. It just kind of depends on how I feel, how my body reacts when I wake up (Wednesday, Aug. 26).
"But I feel like today was a good step I did a lot today. See what happens."
More: Tigers among MLB Pipeline's farm systems with best outfield prospects
Manager AJ Hinch was pleased with what he saw.
"Riley Greene continues to advance his baseball work," Hinch said. "One step forward. That's a good sign. I was pleased with his work. It's as close to full speed as he's been."
The Tigers have lost six consecutive games and nine of their last 10 games entering Tuesday. They have missed Greene's offense, sitting currently with an .816 OPS, 16 homers and 54 RBIs
From Greene's perspective, it hasn't been a whole lot of fun sitting and watching the games.
"It's tough," Greene said. "I want to be there through the ups and downs, and I want to be going through whatever it is. It's tough. I want to be out there."
Injury updates
Pitcher Jack Flaherty (right forearm flexor strain) will throw off the mound Wednesday, his first time doing so since being put on the injured list July 22.
"A positive step," Hinch said.
Flaherty was 4-2 with a 2.12 ERA, 34 strikeouts and 10 walks in his six starts before leaving a game in Chicago against the Cubs on July 20 early because of the forearm discomfort.
Flaherty said last weekend he's determined to return and pitch for the Tigers in September.
Hinch also said pitcher Keider Montero will start Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, after throwing a bullpen session Wednesday.
The Tigers pushed back Montero's next start four days after Montero endured a stressful, five-inning start Aug.18 in Pittsburgh.
Montero has thrown a career-high 133.2 innings this season, with 21 starts. He threw 96 innings (playoffs included) last year.
Weird year
Heading into Tuesday's games, only Texas (66-66) was at .500 in the American League West Division, and the Chicago White Sox (68-63) were the lone AL Central team above .500.
Despite the slew of losing records in the AL, Hinch doesn't necessarily believe it's a down year.
"I get into these debates with my buddies because of the narrative the American League is substandard," Hinch said. "The records are, but the players and teams aren't. There are a number of teams in our league who you don't really want to match up with."
Hinch called it a "weird" year.
"The West or the Central, it's been a really weird year," Hinch said. "The East is in its own right, always a beast. (But) once the dust settles and teams go back to 0-0, you'll find the American League has some pretty difficult teams to match up.
"The records don't reflect the teams' qualities."
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Riley Greene not enjoying sitting, watching as Tigers slump continues
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