As they try to hang around in the AL Central, the Tigers will be without their best pitcher for at least the next two weeks.
Eduardo Rodriguez has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a pulley rupture in his left index finger, the club announced Tuesday. He sustained the injury on one of his final pitches last Sunday when he held the White to one run in six innings in the Tigers' 6-5 win.
Rodriguez is fourth in the majors with a 2.13 ERA and fifth with a 0.98 WHIP through 11 starts. Per the Tigers, he will rest for the next seven to 10 days and then be re-evaluated for a throwing program. His injury has officially been diagnosed as a ruptured A4 pulley, which is most often seen in rock climbers and can require up to two months in recovery time.
The Tigers also placed outfielder Matt Vierling on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with lower back soreness. In a pair of corresponding moves, they recalled right-handed reliever Braden Bristo, claimed off waivers from the Rays earlier this month, and infielder Tyler Nevin from Triple-A Toledo.
The club is expected to make a clearer decision Wednesday on Rodriguez's replacement in the rotation. Detroit is two games under .500 (25-27) entering play Tuesday night, but just two games behind the Twins for first place in the AL Central.
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