Impressive Manning looking to sidestep bad luck in '24

TAMPA, Fla. -- Tigers right-hander Matt Manning was pitching as dominantly as anyone in the Majors over four consecutive starts late last season. But then, on Sept. 6, a 119.5 mph comebacker off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton broke his right foot and ended his season.

Manning faced Stanton again Sunday in Detroit’s 7-2 win over the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field, and he got him to ground out weakly to shortstop. But Manning received another scare from the final batter he faced in the second inning. Outfielder Brandon Lockridge hit a screamer just over his head that became a groundout, but Manning raised both hands over his head while walking off the mound.

“Yeah, they love hitting the ball at me,” Manning said. “I’m eventually going to get it away from me.”

Manning, who allowed only a solo homer to Juan Soto in three innings and struck out four, said of his stuff: “I thought it was good. I had conviction and control of all my pitches, and got a lot of swings and misses, threw a lot of strikes [29 of 39 pitches].”

Manning also had last season paused when Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk lined one off that same foot April 11 and caused a fracture, shelving him until June 27.

Amazingly, Manning recovered quickly enough from the pain to throw out Stanton and run over to cover first for the out on Kirk.

“He obviously was super unlucky to get hurt twice in the same way,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said prior to Sunday's game. “But it started to blossom a little bit -- all the promise that we’d heard about and learned about. And he needs innings. He’s still very young, but he’s very talented.”

The 26-year-old Manning had an 0.36 ERA over his final 24 2/3 innings in 2023, allowing just 11 hits and seven walks. His ERA dropped from 5.06 to 3.58 during that stretch, while his record rose from 3-4 to 5-4.

“Well, he’s got good stuff,” Hinch said in explaining the strong finish. “And the conviction in the stuff has gotten better and better as he’s matured. He’s always been aggressive. I just think the conviction and being dedicated to the plan of what he needs to do with every pitch [improved].”

What has the manager liked about Manning this spring?

“He came in prepared to compete for the team for a job,” said Hinch. “He didn’t take anything for granted this offseason. He [adjusts] some of his off-speed pitches. He’s thrown some of his best fastballs that I’ve seen out of my time with him right out of the gate. And you can’t do that unless you pay attention in the offseason and come prepared.

“He had a very good offseason, and he’s having a good spring.”

Manning, the ninth overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, was asked about that competition Hinch sensed. Adding veteran starters Jack Flaherty and Kenta Maeda to a rotation led by Opening Day starter Tarik Skubal leaves just two spots open.

• Projecting the Tigers' Opening Day roster

“I feel great,” Manning said of the competition. “It’s a hard team to make. I’m just doing me. … But I don’t think I’m competing for anything. If anything, I’m just competing with myself -- how good I am and how good I can be.”

Manning, 2018 No. 1 overall Draft pick Casey Mize and Reese Olson are competing for the final two rotation spots.

Mize, who relieved Manning Sunday, was effective in only his second outing since recovering from Tommy John surgery. He threw two scoreless innings despite walking a pair in the fourth, allowing one hit while striking out two.

So Mize is responding to the challenge, too.

“They’re going to take the best five pitchers out of camp," Manning said, "and I know who I am as a pitcher, and I’m just going to do me.”

Manning said the harder slider he has added is a variation intended “to keep them off my curveball and bigger [breaking] slider.” He’s also throwing his changeup harder.

“He’s creating depth with his secondary pitches -- which makes his fastball better,” Hinch said after the game. “It’s very encouraging when you can get balls on the ground with your secondary pitches and fastballs with the kinds of swings he was getting. ...

“He’s confident; he’s got a little edge to him.”

Manning was brief with most of his postgame answers, and when asked about his current mindset, replied: “Pitch, throw hard, win.”

Lombard family moment
Tigers bench coach and outfield coach George Lombard Sr. had the pleasure of watching his son, George Lombard Jr., play shortstop for the Yankees as a nonroster invitee to Spring Training.

“We had a nice time with him in the coaches’ meeting today on whether he was going to have to leave the bench when George Jr. comes to the plate,” said Hinch. “I’m going to save Alex Lange to match up with him, and we’re going to introduce him to the best we have.”

Lombard Jr., the Yankees' 2023 first-round Draft pick from Gulliver Prep in Pinecrest, Fla., walked and hit into a game-ending double play against Trey Wingenter, a quality reliever.

“I know who the happiest guy on our side was that we just walked him,” said Hinch. “That was pretty awesome to see, and a genuine smile from both of them. They had a little banter in between innings with George and George. … And I’m glad he hit into a double play to end the game.”