Tigers' Jack Flaherty heads to injured list; Ty Madden called up

Chicago — Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty went on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation and reliever Ty Madden returned to the team Tuesday to give the bullpen a bit of flexibility after two games of heavy use.

Detroit recalled the right-handed Madden before continuing their three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The club placed Flaherty, who worked the first four innings of Monday night’s 8-6 victory over the Cubs, on the injured list shortly before the start of Tuesday night’s game.

Detroit used five players from the bullpen during Monday night’s victory at Wrigley Field and each threw at least an inning.

The Tigers called on four pitchers in long appearances Sunday after Casey Mize left 3⅓ innings into a loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

“The last two days have been taxing, for sure,” manager AJ Hinch said Tuesday afternoon. “(The Cubs offense) will grind through a lot of difficult at-bats.”

The right-handed Madden (0-0, 3.15 ERA) was optioned to Toledo on June 14 after making seven appearances, including a start. 

“He’s performed really well here,” Hinch said. “He challenges the strike zone. He’s got a tough combo with the slider and split. Somebody I can trust in a variety of roles.”

Flaherty’s full diagnosis was right flexor inflammation and the club does not believe he’s going to be out longer than his allotted time off. The right-hander (3-8, 4.59) has made 19 starts this season. 

Heavy heart for Framber Valdez

Framber Valdez was set to make his first start since July 9 on Tuesday. He returned to the mound after taking a week off for his grandmother’s funeral in the Dominican Republic.

Aurelina Pinales died at 83 and Valdez said she was an inspiration throughout his life and career. 

“She’s the one who raised me when my mom had to go out and work,” Valdez said through a team translator Monday afternoon. “She was super supportive. She was always cheering for me all the time. “Every time I went back I always brought her signed balls, my signed jerseys, everything from my experiences. It was for her.”

Valdez’s most recent start was one of his best with Detroit since he joined the club as a free agent last winter. He went seven innings of a 4-1 victory over the Athletics, allowing an earned run on three hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.

Lineup shift

Kevin McGonigle and Gleyber Torres switched places in Tuesday’s lineup. Torres, who went 2 for 3 with a pair of walks in Monday’s return from the injured list, moved up a spot to the top of the order while McGonigle, Monday’s leadoff man, came up second.

Kerry Carpenter got a night off after leaving Monday night’s game with heel soreness. All-Star catcher Dillon Dingler was Tuesday’s designated hitter while Jake Rogers moved behind the plate.

Minor matters

Right-hander Burch Smith (shoulder inflammation) is moving up to Toledo to continue his march back from the 60-day injured list. He went down in late May after making 13 appearances, including one start. … Javier Báez (right ankle sprain) kicked off his rehab assignment with a single in his first at-bat and later scored for the Single-A Lakeland Flying Tigers on Tuesday. 

Saved by a … shoe?

Monday night’s 10th-inning rally began with a scary moment when Riley Greene’s line drive appeared to strike Cubs reliever Trent Thornton squarely on his left heel. Thornton left the game after the play.

All appeared well a day later.

Thornton said a piece of thick plastic on his cleats took the brunt of the liner, which came off Greene’s bat at more than 100 mph. The Cubs, whose rotation and bullpen have seen all sorts and degrees of injuries this season, did not anticipate needing to place the right-hander on the injured list.

What? No day game?

Wrigley Field didn’t install permanent lights until the late 1980s and the Cubs still have an agreement with their neighbors that limits the number of night games they can play. That usually means the final day of a series, especially when both teams have travel plans, is played under the sun.

That won’t be the case Wednesday because ESPN will broadcast the game nationally in prime time. 

It’ll make for a tight turnaround for the Tigers, who don’t expect to return to Detroit until well after midnight, then return to Comerica Park to host Kansas City on Thursday night.

Tigers at Cubs

First pitch: 8:10 p.m., Wednesday, Wrigley Field, Chicago

TV/radio: ESPN, 97.1 FM

Scouting report

RHP Keider Montero (6-5, 3.22 ERA), Tigers: Montero closes out the three-game series against the Cubs with his first start since June 16. He went 2-0 with a save in five appearances since moving to the bullpen. He could be pitching for a return to the rotation after the Tigers placed Flaherty on the injured list. Montero went seven innings in each of his last two starts late last month, including an 8-0 win over Houston on June 26. 

RHP Colin Rea (7-6, 4.74), Cubs: Rea has been a fixture in the rotation most of the season for a team that has seen myriad injuries strike its starters and bullpen. He gave up three earned runs in six innings of his last outing, a 5-2 loss to Minnesota on July 17. He’d won his previous two starts.

Scott Held is a freelance writer.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers' Jack Flaherty heads to injured list; Ty Madden called up