After a 1-8 start to the season, the Detroit Tigers have moved LHP back to the bullpen and will call upon rookie Charlie Furbush to take his spot in the rotation.
The move came in response to Coke’s part in a 16-9 loss to the New York Mets Wednesday night in which Coke was credited with the loss.
Coke who use to pitch while in the minors has primarily been a reliever up until this this season. As a reliever though he has had much more success going 7-5 with a 3.76 ERA in 74 relief appearances last season.
According to David Mayo of the Grand Rapids Press, Furbush will get his first start on Monday when the Tigers start a road series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Furbush will be available for the series finale against the Mets on Thursday but will be unavailable after that. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said that Coke won’t be available out of the pen until Saturday leaving the Tigers short in the bullpen for Friday’s series opener against the San Francisco Giants.
After being called up in late May, Furbush made made 12 relief appearances for the Tigers, pitching 21.2 innings and allowing just six earned runs.
As a starter in Toledo, Furbush made eight starts going 4-3 with a 2.91 ERA.
Source: Grand Rapids Press
