CLEVELAND — The Detroit Tigers are optimistic that slugger Kerry Carpenter will be able to contribute as a pinch-hitter in Saturday’s crucial Game 5 of the AL Division Series against Cleveland, despite facing a hamstring issue.
Carpenter sustained the injury while running the bases during Game 4 on Thursday evening.

The tight schedule, coupled with Major League Baseball’s decision to advance the game’s start by seven hours due to potential bad weather, has limited his recovery time significantly.
Manager A.J. Hinch noted that Carpenter participated in batting practice on Friday and reported feeling better.
He added that Carpenter will undergo a complete pregame workout to assess his readiness to play.

“He’s experiencing soreness and a degree of discomfort, so he’s not at full strength, but there’s also enthusiasm for Game 5,” Hinch mentioned.
“That excitement could positively influence his performance, helping him push through any pain.”
Hinch expressed positivity based on Carpenter’s hitting session, stating, “He was pleased with his swings, and so were our hitting coaches who saw him connecting well. When I saw his happy demeanor this morning on the early bus, I felt increasingly hopeful about his availability for the game.”

Carpenter had previously stepped up as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of Game 2, where he hit a crucial three-run homer in the ninth off Cleveland’s All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, leading the Tigers to a 3-0 victory that evened the series.

The Tigers are counting on Carpenter’s power, as he recorded 18 home runs throughout the season, even while limited to just 87 games due to a lower back stress fracture that kept him sidelined from late May until mid-August.
With the Guardians set to start left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd in Game 5, Carpenter, a left-handed hitter, would likely have been on the bench regardless. He had a limited role in Game 2 until his impactful late-game appearance.