Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter was not in the club's lineup for a win-or-go-home Game 5 in the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians due to a hamstring injury. But Carpenter was spotted heading to the batting cages, without a limp, shortly after news of his exclusion from the starting lineup broke.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters before Saturday's game that he was "optimistic" that the club would get good news on Carpenter, adding that the "adrenaline" the outfielder was feeling would help him fight through the soreness in his hamstring. Hinch's comments left the door open to Carpenter potentially being utilized as a bench bat.
