The Detroit Tigers got some positive injury news on Wednesday regarding right-handed Reese Olson. Manager AJ Hinch told Detroit news writer Chris McCosky that Olson could make his return from the injured list this week against Cleveland, possibly as soon as Friday.
Olson has been sidelined since mid-May with a finger injury. Last week, Olson threw 74 pitches across four innings in a rehab start in Triple-A. The 25-year-old had been pitching well to start the season before hitting the shelf, pitching to a 4-3 record with a 2.96 ERA and 51 strikeouts.
Olson has spent his entire three-year career with the Tigers, and has pitched to a 13-18 record with a 3.60 ERA in his career.
The news provides the team with a bit of positive relief in light of outfielder Kerry Carpenter, and right-handed pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long both landing on the IL this week. The Tigers have also had plenty of injuries in the starting rotation, with Alex Cobb, Jackson Jobe, and Jose Urquidy still sidelined.
Despite the injuries, the Tigers’ 3.44 ERA as a team ranks third in Major League Baseball, and their 1.18 WHIP as a team ranks second. Olson will rejoin a Tigers staff led by Tarik Skubal that has catapulted the team to an American League-best 53-32 record.