Detroit – Everything seemed normal.
Matt Manning completed his pregame warmup and bullpen session Wednesday night ahead of his scheduled start against the Royals. He walked back into the dugout surrounded by catcher Eric Haase and pitching coach Chris Fetter and slapped hands with the bullpen pitchers as they crossed paths.
Just like always.
Then, in a blink, right-handed reliever Will Vest was hurriedly warming up in the bullpen. Fetter ran out to home plate where manager AJ Hinch was exchanging lineup cards and ground rules with the umpires.
Nothing is ever normal for this baseball team.