Easton Lucas joins Detroit Tigers, but he's connected to Keider Montero, Alex Faedo

Four pitchers from the Detroit Tigers — right-handed reliever Mason Englert, left-handed reliever Easton Lucas, right-handed starter Keider Montero and right-handed reliever Alex Faedo — are connected to each other through a series of roster moves Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

It's all one big puzzle.

The first piece of the puzzle clicked into place when the Tigers called up Lucas from Triple-A Toledo before Tuesday's game, the second of three games against the Philadelphia Phillies at Comerica Park. The 27-year-old, whom the Tigers claimed off waivers from the Oakland Athletics in mid-May, has a 6.14 ERA with eight walks and 20 strikeouts across 14⅔ innings with the Mud Hens. To open a spot for Lucas, the Tigers optioned Englert to Toledo.

"We used Mason a lot the last couple of days," manager A.J. Hinch said. "I think he threw maybe as much as anybody other than a starter. He wasn't going to be available, so we called Easton up so he can be an available arm. We needed some depth to protect our pitching a little bit, and then we'll see where it takes him."

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After Tuesday's game, the Tigers will option Lucas back to Toledo and promote Montero to pitch the bulk of Wednesday's game. After Wednesday's game, the Tigers will option Montero back to Toledo and activate Faedo from the injured list for Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Angeles in Anaheim, California.

It's unclear if Montero will start Wednesday, simply because the Tigers might want a left-handed reliever to face Phillies left-handed hitters Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber in the first inning for matchup reasons. But Montero has worked exclusively as a starter in the 2024 season.

"The stuff across the board is really good," Hinch said of Montero. "The more opportunity we can give him to see this level, the better he's going to be. It's the experience that he needs."

He has a 5.03 ERA with 30 walks and 54 strikeouts across 48⅓ innings in 13 starts with Triple-A Toledo. The 23-year-old also made his MLB debut on May 29. Called up as a starter for a doubleheader, Montero allowed four runs on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 4⅓ innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Montero owns a 6.11 ERA with 13 walks and 18 strikeouts in 17⅔ innings at the Triple-A level since making his MLB debut.

"One of the things he's really worked on is how to attack left-handed hitters," Hinch said. "He's got to incorporate his changeup a little bit more. Spin is always there for him. He's been dialing up his fastball pretty well. His good innings are really good. He has the occasional misfires that creates some innings for him."

Finally, the Tigers will activate Faedo (right hip inflammation) from his rehab assignment with Toledo for Thursday's series opener against the Angels.

Faedo is set to make his third and final rehab appearance Tuesday with the Mud Hens. The 28-year-old threw 21 pitches for three outs in his first outing, then 41 pitches for four outs in his second outing. He had three walks and three strikeouts in his first two games. He's only scheduled to face three batters in his third game.

As for Englert, the 24-year-old posted a 5.95 ERA with four walks and 14 strikeouts across 19⅔ innings in 11 relief appearances. Englert, a former Rule 5 draft pick, will stay in a multi-inning role with the Mud Hens.

"The right-on-right changeup will be important for him," Hinch said. "The overall, general command is something that's plagued him a little bit. ... What we really need out of that is quality strikes. He's flashed it. He just hasn't quite put it together to the point of consistent outings, but he's more than capable."

Kerry Carpenter swings, fields, runs

Outfielder Kerry Carpenter started baseball activities Monday.

"It's awesome," Carpenter said. "It's been nice to actually get on the field."

The 26-year-old, sidelined since May 29 with a lumbar spine stress fracture, has already done hitting, fielding and running, but he isn't close to beginning a rehab assignment.

Carpenter used a batting tee for hitting drills Monday, then took the field for light fielding and running drills Tuesday.

"No problems with it at all," Carpenter said. "After the first swing, then it was like riding a bike."

Javier Báez needs 'extensive' rehab assignment

Shortstop Javier Báez (lumbar spine inflammation) continues to progress through a return-to-play program, primarily spending his time in Tampa, Florida.

The 31-year-old will not be activated for the upcoming 10-game road trip against the Angels (Thursday-Sunday), Minnesota Twins (July 2-4) and Cincinnati Reds (July 5-7).

"He's got an extensive rehab assignment coming when he gets back into baseball," Hinch said, suggesting Báez could play for Low-A Lakeland and Triple-A Toledo before his return. "He won't come straight to us."

It's unclear when Báez will begin that rehab assignment.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers shuffle pitching call-ups vs. Philadelphia Phillies