Tigers manager A.J. Hinch out of Friday's game at Guardians with non-COVID-19 illness

The Cleveland Guardians confirmed on Thursday that manager Terry Francona would miss at least Friday's home series opener against the Detroit Tigers because of what's been called "a minor surgical procedure." 

Francona's counterpart also didn't work Friday's game held at Progressive Field. 

According to The Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Tigers manager A.J. Hinch missed Friday's encounter because he wasn't feeling well. The good news is that Hinch tested negative for COVID-19, meaning he could potentially rejoin the club for Saturday's matchup in Cleveland. Detroit bench coach George Lombard served as acting manager for Friday. 

Per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, Tigers right-handed reliever Will Vest tested positive for COVID-19 before Friday's game. 

The Guardians, meanwhile, named bench coach DeMarlo Hale their acting boss for Friday's showdown. It's believed Francona will return to work Saturday. 

Francona recently missed four contests due to COVID-19 but was back with the club Wednesday and worked Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Pitching coach Carl Willis was Cleveland's acting manager when Francona was previously sidelined. 

The 16-19 Guardians began the night in third place in the American League Central standings and trailed the first-place Minnesota Twins by 4.5 games. 13-25 Detroit is in last place and sat nine games back of Minnesota before Friday's action.