The Detroit Tigers are monitoring another potential injury in the outfield.

In Sunday's 4-3 extra innings loss in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals , outfielder Kerry Carpenter was substituted out of the game entering the ninth inning when he was scheduled to bat third with the game tied.

Manager A.J. Hinch said Carpenter was experiencing "right hamstring soreness" and he will undergo further testing on Sunday to find out the potential severity.

"I don't know yet," Hinch said. "He came out of the game with right hamstring soreness after legging out the infield single."

The injury hits the Tigers as they prepare to host the San Diego Padres , one of the hottest teams in baseball, for a three-game series. The Padres (15-6) entered their Sunday night game with the Houston Astros owning MLB's best record despite a two-game losing streak.

Carpenter recorded his third hit of the game on a ground ball to first baseman Salvador Perez, who errantly tossed the ball to reliever Daniel Lynch, who was trying to cover the bag. Carpenter finished the game 3-of-4 and an RBI.

Carpenter remained in the game after the hit, moving to second base on a Zach McKinstry RBI single that briefly gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead. He played in left field in the top of the eighth inning but did not have a ball come his way before subbing out entering the ninth inning.

Prior to Sunday's three-hit performance, Carpenter was hitting .290 (20-of-69) with five home runs and 10 RBIs. He has made an appearance in every Tigers' game this season, primarily playing one of the corner outfield positions or as the designated hitter.

The Tigers are already dealing with a host of injuries in the outfield. Center fielder Parker Meadows, who resumed a throwing program this week, remains out until late May after being placed on the 60-day IL before the season with a nerve issue in his right bicep.

Matt Vierling, who moves around the outfield positions, is on the injured list with a strained right rotator cuff, Wenceel Pérez is on the 60-day IL with a back injury and reserve Manuel Margot remains out with a strained patellar tendon in his left knee.

Last season, Carpenter played 87 games after missing over two months in the middle of the season with a lumbar spine stress fracture. He injured his left hamstring in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians while running the bases, but returned in Game 5 as a pinch-hitter despite being hobbled.

"I don't know what is going on with Carp, but hopefully it is nothing," starting pitcher Tarik Skubal said after settling for a no-decision Sunday. "He's a big, big part in our lineup. Big bat, runs the ball out of the yard, hits the ball hard, handles righties really well and holds his own.

"I think he's a big part of this team, so hopefully it is nothing serious."

Jared Ramsey covers sports for the Detroit Free Press . Contact him at ; Follow Jared on X or Bluesky .