Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch gave Tyler Alexander a soft fist bump on the chest and smiled. The left-handed reliever — starting Monday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers — had just walked away from the on-deck circle and into the dugout.
Nomar Mazara came off the bench to pinch-hit for him in the second inning, following Alexander's two-strikeout scoreless first inning. Playing at American Family Field, a National League ballpark, Hinch didn't want his pitcher to bat with two outs and the bases loaded against Corbin Burnes, one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Unfortunately for Hinch, Mazara grounded out and the Tigers (22-32) squandered the early opportunity to disrupt Burnes.