Manager A.J. Hinch said Monday that Vierling (oblique) has begun a hitting progression but isn't yet ready to head out on a rehab assignment, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports. "He's taking indoor swings and still doing some defensive work. He's just not full-go yet," Hinch said. "Given the time of year and the nature of the injury, a setback would likely end his season, so we have to be very careful."

EDGE Analysis

Detroit still remains hopeful that Vierling will be ready for activation from the 10-day injured list before the end of the season, but he'll likely need to head out on a rehab assignment within the next week or two for a return to the big-league roster to become realistic. Due to a shoulder injury suffered in spring training in addition to his left oblique strain, Vierling has played in just 31 games for Detroit this season, slashing .239/.310/.307 with one home run and two stolen bases across 100 plate appearances.

The Tigers placed Vierling on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a left oblique strain.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling started in right field but was lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth inning Saturday, and his departure was seemingly due to the oblique injury. Manager A.J. Hinch indicated after the game that the issue is considered mild, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Despite the optimism, Vierling could still be at risk of missing more than the minimum 10 days as he heads to the IL for the third time this season. The Tigers recalled infielder Trey Sweeney from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move.

Vierling appeared as a pinch hitter and went 1-for-1 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-5 win over the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling pinch hit for Kerry Carpenter in the eighth inning to face Los Angeles lefty Reid Detmers, and Vierling promptly launched a home run to erase a 5-3 deficit. While Vierling has struggled for much of the season, he has been better lately with a .273 batting average over his last 15 games. The veteran should continue to see regular time in center field with Parker Meadows (quad) on the injured list.

Vierling went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Batting second for just the second time this season, Vierling responded with his first multi-hit performance of the year. The veteran, who's only managed to appear in 28 games so far as he's dealt with a handful of injuries, has struggled to get his bat going. Despite some struggles at the plate, Vierling offers plenty of defensive versatility for Detroit, so he should continue to see ample playing time at a handful of positions. At the moment, he's primarily playing center field with Parker Meadows (quad) on the injured list.

Vierling is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling had started three of the Tigers' last four games in center field but will hit the bench while Javier Baez gets a day out of the infield and draws a start in center for the first time since June 4. With Parker Meadows (quadriceps) recently landing on the shelf, the Tigers could opt for a loose timeshare in center between Vierling and Baez, neither of whom has produced especially well at the plate over the past month.

Vierling, who started in center field Monday against Arizona and went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI, could see more time there in the short term with Parker Meadows (quad) landing on the 10-day injured list before the game, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling had been seeing some time in left and right field, as well as at third base, but he may now focus more squarely on center with Meadows on the shelf. Wenceel Perez, who started in right Monday, is also an option in center, though it appears that Vierling will be first in the pecking order. The veteran utility player is only batting .212 this season, but he's been better lately with a .286 average over his last 10 games, and his fantasy outlook gets a short-term boost while Meadows is out.

Vierling went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling's box score doesn't jump off the page, but he provided the key hit by delivering an RBI single in the top of the eighth inning that broke a 1-1 tie. The utility man has struggled to get his bat going during an injury-riddled season, though he's now riding a modest three-game hitting streak, and his playing time has been trending upward recently as well. His versatility gives him a path to a fairly consistent spot in the lineup if he continues to produce at the plate.

Vierling will start in right field and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Though he'll be filling in for a resting Wenceel Perez in the series finale, Vierling could be encroaching on Parker Meadows' role as the Tigers' preferred option in center field. Since returning from the injured list June 28, Vierling had been in center against left-handed pitching, but he also received the nod over Meadows in two of the Tigers' previous four matchups with righties. Vierling has gone just 4-for-25 with a 6:6 BB:K in eight games since being activated.

The Tigers reinstated Vierling (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list, and he will start in center field and bat seventh against the Twins on Saturday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling has appeared in just four major-league games this season due to right shoulder inflammation, which has led to two separate stints on the injured list. He played in seven games for Triple-A Toledo during his latest rehab outing, going 6-for-29 (.207) with four runs scored and two RBI, but he's shown enough to make his way back to the majors and will start in the outfield in his return. Trey Sweeney was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Vierling (shoulder) is slated to start at third base for Triple-A Toledo in a rehab game Thursday and also see some more time in the outfield before his return to the majors, which is likely to come within a week.

EDGE Analysis

Vierling has worked his way up from serving as the DH to seeing some time in the outfield during his rehab assignment, and he'll now shift over to third base. The team wants to see the 28-year-old take some reps at the hot corner and also play a bit more in the outfield before bringing him back to the majors. The Tigers lineup has done well in the absence of Vierling, so he may have to settle for more of a bench role initially, though he could eventually push for more playing time at third or in right field.