The Detroit Tigers were dealt another injury concern on Monday as right-hander Troy Melton was scratched from his scheduled start against the Houston Astros.
According to a report from the Detroit Free Press, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Melton was removed from the lineup due to what he described as “general back tightness.” The late change came just hours before Detroit opened its three-game series at Daikin Park.
The timing is particularly unfortunate for both Melton and the Tigers. The 25-year-old has been one of the bright spots in Detroit’s injury-riddled pitching staff this season, posting a 3-0 record with a 2.81 ERA and 1.013 WHIP across his first four starts of 2026. In 25.2 innings, Melton has allowed opponents little room to breathe while helping stabilize a rotation that has dealt with multiple setbacks.
Detroit has already been without several key pitchers at various points this season, including Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, Justin Verlander, and Reese Olson. While Skubal has returned and Verlander is working his way back, the last thing the Tigers needed was another question mark in their rotation.
At this point, the severity of Melton’s back issue remains unknown. The Tigers will likely provide additional updates in the coming days as they determine whether the injury will force him to miss additional time.
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