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CHICAGO – The Detroit Tigers placed right-hander Jack Flaherty on the 15-day injured list with right flexor inflation and called up right-handed pitcher Ty Madden before playing the Chicago Cubs in the second game of the three-game series on Tuesday, July 21.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch announced that Madden was being called up during his normal pregame press session, but he wasn’t ready to announce a corresponding move at that time.
“We've got to sort through our options,” Hinch said during a pregame press availability. “We wanted some guys to come play catch. We've had a late day, as you can tell, no BP on the field.”
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Flaherty threw four innings on Monday. He gave up four runs off five hits and struck out six. The inflammation is believed to be mild and his stay on the IL is expected to be close to the minimum.
In other news, Casey Mize was not placed on the IL. Mize, who has dealt with a groin injury, was on the field a short time before Hinch talked.
It appeared he was the other player who the Tigers wanted to “play some catch.” Mize was playing catch in the outfield with several coaches watching his every move.
Madden has pitched in seven games for the Tigers in 2026, including one start. He has a 3.15 ERA over 20 innings with 23 strikeouts and five walks.
“He just has a lot of options, especially against a heavy right-handed lineup, which we know we're going to get here,” Hinch said. “When he gets to the big leagues, and he's performed really well here. So he challenges the strike zone. He's got tough combo with his slider and split. Somebody I do trust a lot to pitch in a variety of roles. We shortened him in his last start, anticipating him being a bullpen option for us, either in this series or the Royal series, so we're happy we're happy to get him here.”
In the short term, Madden will give the Tigers a fresh arm after the Tigers bullpen has been drained over the last two games because of two short starts.
Mize pitched only 3 1/3 innings on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels. He was taken out with groin discomfort and he was also hit on the left hand on a comebacker. Then Flaherty pitched only four innings on Monday against the Cubs.
“The last two days have been taxing for sure,” Hinch said. “Part of it was when Casey came out of the game, and then yesterday Jack worked hard, and this (Cubs) offense over there will grind through a lot of different at-bats. So getting a good arm with some length. We were targeting at some point this week we were probably going to have to do something to freshen up a bullpen that by inserting Keider (Montero) into the rotation to come a little bit quicker just based on the way last two days have gone.”
Contact Jeff Seidel: [email protected]. Follow him on X @seideljeff.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers call up Ty Madden, Jack Flaherty placed on injured list
