Detroit Tigers send Matt Manning to Triple-A; Casey Mize, Reese Olson make MLB roster
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Matt Manning won't be getting on the Chicago-bound plane next week.
The Detroit Tigers on Friday optioned Manning, one of three pitchers competing for two spots in the starting rotation, to Triple-A Toledo.
Casey Mize and Reese Olson won the competition, and join Tarik Skubal, Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty in the five-man starting rotation as part of the Opening Day roster. The Tigers open the season Thursday at the White Sox.
Manning expressed frustration with the decision.
"This news is hard to deliver, but it's harder to receive," manager A.J. Hinch said Friday. "He vowed to go and do his part in Triple-A, but he wasn't happy. No player is at this point when their expectations weren't met."
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Skubal is scheduled to start Thursday's Opening Day game against the White Sox, followed by Maeda on March 30 and Flaherty on March 31 to complete the three-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Mize, Olson and Skubal are lined up to pitch in the second series from April 1-3 against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mize, who turns 27 on May 1, is returning from elbow surgery and back surgery, but isn't expected to face any innings restrictions coming out of spring training.
"It's more about where Casey is and where Reese is than necessarily negative on Matt," Hinch said. "Obviously we need to hold our stuff, he needs to control damage a little bit better, but he did a lot of good things."
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The home opener is April 5 at Comerica Park vs. Oakland.
This story will be updated.
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 send Matt Manning to Triple-A; Casey Mize makes roster
