After a mishap at first base, Javier Báez was carted off the field. Mike Mulholland / Getty Images
The Detroit Tigers are facing injuries to two players after a troublesome five innings Tuesday night in Atlanta.
Javier Báez, who started Tuesday’s game in center field, was carted off after a fifth-inning mishap at first base. After grounding to shortstop, Báez attempted to evade a tag from Braves first baseman Matt Olson but ended up twisting his right leg on the play. Báez stayed on the ground as a trainer evaluated him. He was eventually able to get to his feet but struggled putting weight on his right leg.
There was no immediate word on his status.
Javy Báez was carted off from tonight’s game after this awkward slide into first base
Prayers up 🙏 pic.twitter.com/G6AAVQ26pS
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) April 29, 2026
The injury to Báez came shortly after right-hander Casey Mize exited the game in the third inning with right groin tightness. Mize appeared to grimace after a pair of pitches in the second inning. He eventually left after fielding a dribbler down the first-base line in the third. Mize threw to first base and recorded an out but hopped in pain after the play. He left the field and walked down dugout steps with a Tigers trainer.
Mize surrendered two earned runs over 2 1/3 innings Tuesday, but has a 2.90 ERA for the season and is pitching some of the best baseball of his career. With Justin Verlander still working his way back from the injured list, it’s unclear how the Tigers would replace Mize in the event he has to go on the IL.
Báez entered the game hitting .263 with two home runs. He had taken over the lion’s share of playing time in center field after Parker Meadows went on the IL with a broken forearm April 10.
Although Matt Vierling and Wenceel Pérez are capable of playing center field, the team’s plans could take a serious hit if Báez has to miss time.
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