Troy Melton: Everything you need to know

Melton (1-0) allowed on run on two hits and three walks while striking out three over 5.2 innings to earn the win in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Orioles. Melton threw 48 of 79 pitches for strikes in his first big-league game since last September. He had been sidelined for the first two months of this season due to an elbow strain. The three walks showed some rust, but it was otherwise a positive outing, albeit in a favorable matchup. Last year, he had a 2.76 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 36:15 K:BB over 45.2 innings across 16 regular-season appearances (four starts). Melton is tentatively projected to start versus the White Sox on the road in his next outing.

The Tigers reinstated Melton (elbow) from the 60-day injured list and will have him start the second game of Sunday's doubleheader in Baltimore. Detroit designated right-hander Connor Seabold for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Melton, who will be making his 2026 debut with the Tigers after spending the first two months of the season on the shelf while recovering from a right elbow strain. Melton showed little sign of rust over his four-start rehab assignment (three with Single-A Lakeland, one with Triple-A Toledo), compiling a 1.54 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 16:2 K:BB over 11.2 innings. The 25-year-old right-hander finished the 2025 season as a reliever for Detroit but should be in line for a longer-term look in the big-league rotation this time around while the Tigers wait for the likes of Tarik Skubal (elbow) and Justin Verlander (hip) to return from the IL. Melton covered 63 pitches and five innings in his final rehab start, so he could face some light workload restrictions during Sunday's outing.

Melton (elbow) could be activated from the 60-day injured list to pitch Sunday in Baltimore, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports. Melton has looked terrific on his rehab assignment, collecting a 1.54 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 16:2 K:BB in 11.2 innings covering four starts, three with Single-A Lakeland and one with Triple-A Toledo. He reached 63 pitches in his last outing Tuesday and sat in the mid- to upper-90s with his fastball. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Melton will travel with the team to Baltimore, but the skipper stressed that "no decision has been made yet" regarding when Melton will make his season debut. Melton does looks poised to make his next appearance in the majors, but it's still unclear whether that outing will come Sunday or early next week. If Melton doesn't start Sunday's game, Keider Montero would be in line to take the ball on regular rest. Melton has been out all season with a right elbow strain.