According to sources, including Tigers blog BlessYouBoys.com, the Tigers seem set to make some changes in their starting rotation and bullpen, changes that could take place within the next week.
BlessYouBoys.com says that the Tigers will call up left-handed pitcher Charlie Furbush who will be placed in the bullpen while left-handed starter Andy Oliver will be called up and inserted into the starting rotation. On Tuesday, Furbush went 6 innings allowing 2 runs while striking out 8. Furbush’s line headed into Tuesday: 2.90 ERA with 34.4% K/PA and 4.4% BB/PA. His WHIP was 0.893. Oliver has been having a great season as well possessing a 2.89 ERA and striking out batters in 24.4% of their plate appearances while only walking them 9.7% of the time. His WHIP is 1.26.
So what would the Tigers need to do in order to make room on the roster for Furbush and Oliver?
First of all it would assumed that Oliver would take Coke’s spot in the rotation. Even though Coke had a good Wednesday night in Boston going 7 innings and allowing no runs, he has been shaky to start the season. In addition to this the Tigers have been struggling in the bullpen, especially recently demoted setup man Joaquin Benoit, and Coke may be inserted into that role for the time being. The Tigers would still need to another roster move to make room for Furbush and Oliver which could include optioning reliever Ryan Perry, who currently has a 7.24 ERA to Toledo. Now despite his decent start to the season they may also choose to send left-handed reliever Daniel Schlereth to Triple-A or releasing long reliever Brad Thomas who has been very ineffective this season.
Either way it seems like the Tigers may have something cooking on the horizon.
Source: BlessYouBoys.com