Kerry Carpenter leaves ALDS Game 4 with injury

DETROIT – After scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning of Detroit’s 5-4 loss to the Guardians in Game 4 of the American League Division Series on Thursday at Comerica Park, Tigers designated hitter Kerry Carpenter limped into the dugout and down the steps to the stadium clubhouse after tweaking his left Achilles tendon.

Carpenter reached base earlier in the inning with a single to left field and scored on a big RBI single from Wenceel Pérez, giving the Tigers a 3-2 lead at that point. As Carpenter walked from second to first base, he appeared to stumble at third base. After trying to turn on the jets, he stopped just short of the home goal.

“He will undergo some tests on his left hamstring,” Detroit manager AJ Hinch said. “He came in third place. I think we all saw him start to limp back to the dugout and he couldn’t go any further. So we have to get him checked out.”

Rookie Jace Jung replaced Carpenter in the following inning.

If Carpenter is out, it would be a significant loss for the Tigers, both in the immediate future in Game 5 and down the road if they advance to the ALCS. Carpenter hit a game-tying home run in Game 2 of the ALDS, leaving the series tied 1-1 against Detroit at that point. He went 4-for-16 with a home run and a walk this postseason.

Additionally, much like the Guardians, the Tigers mix up the lineup a lot and use their pinch hitters when necessary. Carpenter, a left-handed hitter, also hit .305/.363/.631 in 236 at-bats against right-handers in the regular season, so Hinch would be without that bat if Carpenter had to miss Game 5 or more.

Carpenter landed on the injured list from May 29 to August 29. The 13-year-old suffered from low back inflammation earlier this season but has had no problems with his leg.

“Any time a player like him has to leave the game it’s worrying,” Hinch said. “But I won’t worry about it until the doctors give me an update and he gets imaging and everything we need to do by Saturday.”

Justyn-Henry Malloy will likely be added to the lineup for Game 5, especially if the Guardians start Matthew Boyd, who started Game 2 over Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, although he has not yet been announced as a starter. Malloy went 2-for-3 in Game 2 and is 5-for-7 this postseason, including a narrow double against closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning of Game 4.