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Detroit Tigers to promote Matt Manning to start Monday vs. Marlins, replacing Kenta Maeda

Right-hander Matt Manning is joining the Detroit Tigers' starting rotation.

The Tigers are expected to promote Manning from Triple-A Toledo to start Monday against the Miami Marlins, according to sources. Right-hander Kenta Maeda, who has a 6.75 ERA in seven starts, was lined up to start Monday's game, but the Tigers placed Maeda on the injured list Saturday afternoon with viral illness.

Manning, 26, was scratched from Saturday's start in Triple-A Toledo, along with outfielder Akil Baddoo. The Tigers called up Baddoo, a left-handed hitter, as the immediate replacement for Maeda, so there will need to be another roster move before Manning officially joins the team.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Manning throws in the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins during game two of a doubleheader at Comerica Park on April 13, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Manning throws in the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins during game two of a doubleheader at Comerica Park on April 13, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan.

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Manning has already started three games for the Tigers this season, all of them as the 27th player in doubleheaders. In those starts, Manning owns a 4.24 ERA with eight walks and 17 strikeouts across 17 innings.

He threw 48.3% fastballs, 37.3% sweepers, 8.1% curveballs, 3.7% sliders and 2.6% splitters in his three doubleheader games. His sweeper generated a 31.4% whiff rate, while his fastball averaged 93.7 mph.

Manning has pitched in four games (three starts) with Triple-A Toledo this season, as well. For the Mud Hens, he commands a 3.79 ERA with seven walks and 24 strikeouts across 19 innings.

The Tigers optioned Manning to Triple-A Toledo coming out of spring training, as he lost a three-pitcher competition to Reese Olson and Casey Mize. The three pitchers were competing for two spots in the Opening Day starting rotation.

Manning, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2016 draft, has a 4.36 ERA with a 7.8% walk rate and 16.6% strikeout rate in his MLB career, spanning 243⅓ innings in 48 starts. He posted a 3.43 ERA in 12 starts in 2022, then a 3.58 ERA in 15 starts in 2023.

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 to promote RHP Matt Manning to start Monday