A celebratory birthday dinner for Detroit Tigers infielder Zach McKinstry took a disastrous turn last night when four players were hospitalized with severe food poisoning, casting a shadow over the team’s strong 2025 start. Suspicion has zeroed in on a sous chef at a high-end Detroit restaurant, spotted wearing a Houston Astros jersey, prompting MLB to launch an immediate investigation. Early findings have uncovered a shocking twist: the chef’s social media history reveals a deep allegiance to the Astros and cryptic posts about “settling scores” after Detroit’s 2024 playoff sweep of Houston.

The incident occurred at a private team dinner celebrating McKinstry’s 30th birthday, attended by stars like Riley Greene, Tarik Skubal, and Spencer Torkelson. Hours after the meal, Greene, Skubal, Torkelson, and outfielder Matt Vierling were rushed to a local hospital with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. All four are stable but sidelined for at least a week, a blow to the Tigers’ 15-10 AL Central campaign. The menu reportedly included grilled salmon, roasted vegetables, and a custom birthday cake, with early tests pointing to possible contamination in the seafood.

MLB’s probe, initiated within hours, honed in on the sous chef after witnesses noted his Astros jersey and erratic behavior during the event. A search of his X account uncovered posts praising Houston’s 2017 World Series and mocking Detroit’s 2024 playoff run, including one from October 2024: “Tigers got lucky. Astros forever.” Health inspectors found improper food storage in the restaurant’s kitchen, and while no direct evidence ties the chef to intentional tampering, authorities are exploring whether negligence or malice played a role. The chef has been suspended pending further investigation.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, himself a former Astros skipper, called the incident “deeply troubling” but urged calm. “Our focus is on our players’ recovery,” Hinch said. Fans on X are livid, with #AstrosSabotage trending. One post read, “First sign-stealing, now poisoning? Astros fans are unhinged!” Astros officials condemned any misconduct but denied organizational involvement. This isn’t the first food-related scare at Comerica Park; a 2018 report flagged food safety violations, including a worker spitting on a pizza.

The Tigers face the Royals next, potentially without key starters. MLB vows a thorough investigation, with results expected soon. For now, Detroit’s birthday bash has become a bitter pill, fueling a renewed rivalry with Houston.