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Javier Baez is back in the Detroit Tigers’ lineup Thursday after sitting out the team’s loss to the Red Sox on Wednesday due to a swollen right thumb.
Baez, who is batting .316 with four RBIs in his first five games after signing a lucrative, long-term contract with Detroit during the offseason, was originally scheduled to play Wednesday but was a late scratch due to the pain caused by his thumb.
He is batting third tonight versus Royals veteran right-hander Zack Greinke. He is 3-for-7 with a triple in his career versus the six-time All-Star pitcher. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.
Baez has a small history with thumb issues. He dealt with soreness in the same digit at multiple times last summer, causing him to sit out a game every now and then. But he has been fairly durable for the bulk of his career; the 29-year-old shortstop has played in at least 138 games in each of the past five full seasons.