Tigers’ Doug Fister Could MIss Next Start

The Detroit Tigers have maintained that right hander Doug Fister is on schedule to make his next start, which is supposed to come at home versus the Angels on Saturday. Fister is dealing with a groin strain suffered during his last outing, one where he handed a 5-0 lead and quickly gave it all back and more, eventually losing to the Baltimore Orioles.

Southpaw Drew Smyly, who was optioned to Triple-A Toledo after Detroit added Anibal Sanchez just before the non-waiver trade deadline was pulled after just one inning in his start last night for the Toledo Mud Hens.

James Schmehl of MLive.com:

There have been no reports indicating injury, so one would assume he could’ve continued to pitch.But, by pulling Smyly early, it keeps his arm fresh if the Tigers need to make a move. He would be working on three days’ rest, but as it stands, the Tigers don’t have many other options coming out of Triple-A Toledo.

Schmehl goes on to update this afternoon, via twitter:

Fister missed significant time early in the season due to a strained oblique, but has pitched to a 7-8 record and 3.67 ERA this season. In the seven starts just prior to his rough outing this weekend versus the O’s, Fister has gone 5-1 with a scant 1.52 ERA. In 79.1 innings over 15 starts for the Tigers this year, the rookie Smyly has posted a 4.42 ERA while fanning nearly a batter an inning.

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John Parent is the Senior Director of Human Resources for the FanSided Network. He can be reached at john.parent@fansided.com or via Twitter @JohnJParent.