Alec Gipson-Long: Everything you need to know

Gipson-Long (undisclosed) has given up six earned runs on 12 hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 5.1 innings across his last two starts with Triple-A Toledo. After Gipson-Long experiencing unspecified discomfort, Toledo scratched the right-hander from a scheduled start May 1, but he didn't require a trip to the injured list and slotted back into the rotation a week later. Gipson-Long has labored over his subsequent two starts, however, and now holds a 6.14 ERA and 1.64 WHIP across 22 innings at Triple-A for the season. Even while injuries are testing Detroit's rotation depth, Gipson-Long may not be viewed as a solution for the big club while he's struggled for Toledo.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Gipson-Long was scratched ahead of his scheduled start Friday with Triple-A Toledo due to undisclosed discomfort, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports. Hinch didn't provide many specifics on the nature of the issue beyond noting that Gipson-Long is "not 100 percent" and will be shut down. Toledo has yet to place Gipson-Long on its 7-day injured list, though that transaction could be made in the coming days. The timing of the injury is unfortunate for Gipson-Long, who may have been in the mix for a call-up to Detroit after Casey Mize (adductor) recently joined rotation mate Justin Verlander (hip) on the IL. Gipson-Long had submitted a 4.86 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB in 16.2 innings through his four starts at Toledo this season.

The Tigers activated Gipson-Long (oblique) from the 15-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Toledo, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports. Gipson-Long had made one rehab appearance with Single-A Lakeland, and the Tigers will keep him in the minors rather than return him to the active big-league roster. The righty made three starts and five relief appearances for Detroit in 2025, collecting a 7.18 ERA and 26:6 K:BB over 31.1 innings. Gipson-Long will join the rotation at Toledo.