The hits keep coming to the Tigers' rotation.
Three days after it was revealed that former first overall pick Casey Mize is undergoing Tommy John surgery, the Tigers announced that Opening Day starter and $77 million free agent acquisition Eduardo Rodriguez, who's been sidelined the past three weeks with a sprained ribcage, "will not rejoin the team at this time" due to personal matters.
Rodriguez, who had a 4.38 ERA through his first eight starts, has been placed on the restricted list, which means he won't be paid and won't count toward the club's 40-man roster during his absence.
The 29-year-old left-hander was nearing a return after pitching four scoreless innings last Thursday in a rehab start for Triple-A Toledo. It's unclear when he might return now. A.J. Hinch told reporters Monday that he's "been in touch with Eduardo" and would "continue to support him."
"Al’s statement is Al’s statement," said Hinch.
As for Rodriguez's placement on the restricted list, Hinch said it stems from "the relationship with the player and the organization."
"I knew he wasn’t going to make his start, and he wasn’t going to pitch in the minor leagues or the major leagues at this time. This was inevitable," said Hinch.
Only one member of the Tigers' Opening Day rotation -- Tarik Skubal -- is currently active.
Between their six inactive starting pitchers -- Rodriguez, Mize, Michael Pineda, Matt Manning, Tyler Alexander and Spencer Turnbull -- the Tigers are missing 476 MLB starts, 155 wins and 2,520 strikeouts.
That said, they have patched together a pitching staff that ranks 10th in the majors in ERA (3.72).
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