It’s go-time for the Detroit Tigers, who have now lost eight of their last nine games and have lost ground both in the American League Central Division standings as well as their chances for a Wild Card spot in the American League as a whole.
They host the Tampa Bay Rays for a three-game set beginning on Monday, and before the game, there was some positive news revealed about one of their most important players.
Outfielder Riley Greene, who has been unavailable since suffering a hamstring injury against the divisional rival Cleveland Guardians on August 11, was at Comerica Park doing conditioning work, according to beat writer Evan Woodbery.
“Riley Greene (hamstring) is back at Comerica Park doing some conditioning work before the game in left field,” Woodbery wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “He had been rehabbing at the team’s facility in Lakeland during the Tigers’ road trip.”
The Tigers have won just two of their last 11 games without Greene, highlighting his importance to their success.
Detroit Tigers Manager AJ Hinch Offered The Latest On Injured Outfielder Riley Greene
GettySEATTLE, WASHINGTON – AUGUST 04: Riley Greene #31 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on August 04, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Getty Images)
According to Tigers skipper AJ Hinch, Greene is trending in the right direction, but isn’t quite ready to make his return to the lineup for what would be the first time since he was injured against Cleveland on August 11.
Per Hinch, Greene is “up to a pretty high threshold. It’s not necessarily full throttle yet, but it’s going in that direction,” as reported by Cody Stavenhagen on X.
So far this season, Greene is hitting .273 with 16 home runs and 54 RBI in 117 games played. Right now, the Tigers are 61-69, and have no choice but to string together some wins if they intend on keeping their chances of a playoff berth alive.
Riley Greene Was Hurt On August 11 Against The Guardians
Unavailable since August 11 after suffering a hamstring injury against the Guardians, Greene could become available for a rehabilitation assignment if all goes according to plan.
The encouraging news is that Hinch stated that Greene is trending in the right direction and, while there’s no official timetable for when he could be back in the lineup, all indications point toward that wait not being very long from now.
Critical Health Update On Detroit Tigers OF Riley Greene