Tigers’ Washburn may be done for year
It’s a good thing that the Detroit Tigers have a comfortable lead in the AL Central, because their pitching staff may have suffered a sizable hit with an injury to Jarrod Washburn, who was a trade deadline pickup from Seattle.
Washburn had to leave after one inning Tuesday in the Tigers’ 11-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals. The problem was recurring “soreness” that has affected Washburn’s left knee throughout the season, even as he was pitching well with the Seattle Mariners before they traded him to the Tigers on July 31.
The lefty said after Tuesday’s game that while he had been battling pain all season, it was never this severe.
“It’s definitely not getting better,” he said. “All I’m doing is hurting the team by going out there. We’ve tried everything. I don’t know if there’s more that we can try. Nothing’s worked.”
When asked if he expected to pitch again this season, Washburn replied, “I have no guess. … I don’t know why they’d want me to pitch, pitching the way I have.”
Previous MRIs on the knee have revealed inflammation and instability but no major structural damage.
The Tigers were fully aware of the injury when they acquired him from the Mariners on July 31. He has a 7.33 ERA with Detroit and just one win – so maybe it’s not a big loss.
It’s not official that Washburn misses his next start, but it seems all but obvious that he might be shut down for awhile. His next scheduled start was Sunday in the finale of what was potentially a big series with the Twins. It’s not clear who might take his spot in the rotation, although Tigers manager Jim Leyland was insistent that right-hander Zach Miner won’t be his fill-in pitcher.
“I just think Miner’s too valuable in the bullpen,” Leyland said after Miner pitched two flawless innings of relief Tuesday.
Nate Robertson has been bothered by a strained groin, although it is possible he might be ready to pitch should Washburn’s start be canceled. Armando Galarraga still is recovering from elbow inflammation.
“I don’t have answers on who we’re going to pitch,” Leyland said of Washburn’s spot for Sunday and beyond. “I have no idea right now. I’m going to sit down with the coaches and try to figure something out.
I don’t have any answers for you right now. I wish I did. I don’t have any answers for me.”
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