Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long returns to majors vs. White Sox

Detroit Tigers right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long is set to end a 615-day hiatus from the majors on Wednesday night when he starts against the host Chicago White Sox.

Right elbow surgery in April 2024 and left hip surgery last July have stalled Gipson-Long's development.

Gipson-Long, who last pitched in the majors on Sept. 28, 2023, made five minor league rehab starts across four levels in May.

"I think he's learning how to pitch at this level and learning how to use his weapons," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "We've got to continue to push him to throw strike one. We've got to continue to push him to use his full arsenal. Left-handed hitters become really important for him.

"He's done a nice job getting himself back into a competitive mindset as opposed to rehabbing."

Detroit hopes for a solid return from Gipson-Long, 27, after the team's shaky bullpen game on Tuesday. The White Sox out-hit the Tigers 10-7 to even the four-game series at 1-1.

Chicago's Austin Slater (two RBIs) and Miguel Vargas both had two hits while Michael A. Taylor drilled a three-run home run and had four RBIs. Eight of nine White Sox starters contributed at least one hit. Right fielder Mike Tauchman, who made a rare appearance in the leadoff spot, delivered an RBI single as part of a two-run eighth inning.

While hamstring injuries have limited Tauchman to 14 games this season, they haven't stunted the outfielder's production. Tauchman is batting .340 in 50 at-bats while hitting at a .407 clip (11-for-27) over the past seven games.

"Certainly the performance on the field, and his results and production, have been great," Chicago manager Will Venable said. "He's also someone that's very vocal in the dugout, vocal in the clubhouse; helping share information that he has on pitchers and holding guys accountable to the expectations that we have.

"So he's been a huge impact both on and off the field for us."

Chicago is expected to pitch a bullpen game on Wednesday. The White Sox improved to 1-4 against the Tigers this season with Tuesday's victory while ending Detroit's 11-game winning streak at Rate Field that had dated to 2023.

The White Sox's relief corps contributed 3 2/3 innings of one-run, four-hit ball with two walks and four strikeouts on Tuesday. The bullpen was more taxed one night before, needing to cover six innings after Jonathan Cannon allowed three early home runs while navigating a lower back strain that landed him on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday.

Gipson-Long is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in four career starts covering 20 innings. He earned his lone victory in his MLB debut on Sept. 10, 2023, defeating the White Sox with five innings of two-run, four-hit ball.

"If we call on him at any given time," Hinch said, "we know we're going to get his best."

The Tigers have won seven of nine games since losing three straight to Cleveland from May 22-24.