Tigers' injury updates: Wily Peralta latest pitcher to IL; Austin Meadows getting closer

Tony Paul
The Detroit News

Detroit — Suppose it was Wily Peralta's turn.

The Tigers on Wednesday announced that Peralta was latest pitcher heading to the injured list, after suffering a left hamstring strain in Tuesday's 11-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park.

Tigers pitcher Wily Peralta winces before he exits the game in the eighth inning with an injury Tuesday night at Comerica Park.

"He wasn't moving around great," Hinch said Wednesday, of Peralta's postgame movements Tuesday night.

It's the first time on the IL this year for Peralta, 33, shocking given all the team's injuries to pitchers in 2022. Tuesday was his 23rd appearance of the season; he has a 2.16 ERA to go with a 1.410 WHIP. He's been one of several good stories for a Tigers' bullpen that's been among the best in the American League.

Peralta, a right-hander, has spent the last two seasons with Detroit, working as a starter for most of 2021. He signed as a free agent in February 2021, after spending time in the major leagues with the Kansas City Royals (two seasons) and the Milwaukee Brewers (six seasons).

To replace him on the roster, the Tigers recalled right-hander Will Vest from Triple-A Toledo. Vest had just been sent down Tuesday. Vest, 27, has a 3.41 ERA and 1.138 WHIP in 26 appearances out of the bullpen.

Vest flew to Omaha, Nebraska, on Tuesday night to join the Toledo Mud Hens. When he arrived, he was told to come back. He slept at a Best Western, and boarded the plane back to Detroit on Wednesday morning.

"I did ask him what has he learned," Hinch said Wednesday morning, to a roomful of laughter. "He learned that the hotels in the big leagues are better."

Vest got right back into action Wednesday, closing out the Tigers' 8-2 win over the Guardians with a scoreless ninth inning to complete the four-game sweep. 

In more injury news, outfielder Austin Meadows (Achilles' strains) was schedule to start a rehab assignment with Toledo on Wednesday. The Tigers want to get him at-bats against lefty and righty pitchers, and get him reps at DH but eventually in the outfield, too. It won't be a one- or two-day stay with the Mud Hens. The earliest he could return is Monday's doubleheader in Kansas City, Hinch said.

Meadows, this year alone, also has battled an ear infection, vertigo-like symptoms and COVID-19.

He has played just 36 games, with no home runs and 11 RBIs.

"We need him to be healthy," Hinch said. "We need him to be good."

One last injury note: Right-handed starter Alex Faedo (hip) will be on the taxi squad for Detroit's upcoming 12-game road trip, and might start one of the games Monday as Detroit's 27th man in the doubleheader. Faedo was the 27th man in this past Monday's doubleheader, as well.

We're running a new-subscriber special. Support local journalism, and subscribe here.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @tonypaul1984