Detroit Tigers activate reliever Shelby Miller from injured list, option Mason Englert

ARLINGTON, Texas — Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Shelby Miller is back in action.

He hasn't pitched for the Tigers since May 11.

The Tigers reinstated Miller, sidelined with ulnar nerve inflammation, from the injured list before Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, creating room for his return by optioning right-handed reliever Mason Englert.

"There is no easy way back into the big leagues," Hinch said of Miller, who worked high-leverage innings before the injury. "I don't know what the situation will be. There's no guarantee that it will be an easy way back into his normal workload. He'll be thrown right back in there."

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Miller, 33, has a 4.41 ERA with six walks and 15 strikeouts across 16⅓ innings in 15 games for the Tigers. He appeared in two games during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo, tossing 2⅓ scoreless innings on two hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

He threw 20 pitches in his first game and 25 pitches in his second game. In the second outing, his fastball averaged 93.1 mph and maxed out at 94.3 mph.

"The velocity started to creep back up again, the split was a little bit better," Hinch said. "I think he got himself back feeling good, which is a good start."

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Miller, a 12-year MLB veteran, feels confident in his slider, and in his most recent touch-and-feel bullpen, he found the best version of his splitter. He hopes the velocity and splitter carry over to games at the highest level. He struggled in the four outings before he landed on the injured list.

"Velocity has been good," Miller said. "The slider is good. The slider has been good. The splitter is better than it's been all year. I should be coming back with the right mix."

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Meanwhile, Englert returns to Triple-A Toledo despite some success at the highest level. The 24-year-old surrendered three runs in his first appearance, but he dominated in his last three outings by tossing five scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

He threw more changeups than any other offering in his five-pitch mix.

"He's a better pitcher than the last time he was in the big leagues, or in big-league camp," Hinch said. "He's worked really hard to get an uptick in stuff, in his body mechanics, in his overall output and in his fearlessness. All of that, I told him, was a step forward."

Englert primarily relied on his changeup, four-seam fastball and slider, but he also mixed in his sinker and curveball. His slider took care of right-handed hitters, while his changeup took care of left-handed hitters.

His fastball averaged 93.7 mph in his four appearances this season, up from 91 mph last season.

Englert, a former Rule 5 draft pick, appears likely to take plenty of rides on the shuttle between Triple-A and MLB this season, specifically when there's an injury.

"This could be a choppy year where he's going back and forth," Hinch said. "Maybe not. Maybe when he comes back, he sticks. I'm not sure. But he can help us. I told him I have a lot of confidence in him being able to be in the bullpen whenever we have a need."

Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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