Detroit Tigers' Doug Fister strains right groin; his start Saturday now in question
DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland told reporters after Doug Fister's poor start Sunday that the 28-year-old right-hander didn't look "quite right."
He was right. Fister was playing hurt.
Fister strained his right groin Sunday afternoon while throwing warmup pitches prior to the first inning, Leyland told reporters Tuesday.
"I'm a little worried about him," Leyland said.
Fister underwent an MRI on Monday at the Detroit Medical Center and was diagnosed with an and his next start. As a result, his next start Saturday is now in question.
"You know, I can’t guess that (whether he’d make next start)," Fister said. "It’s tight today, so we’re treating it as we need to, and we’re going to kind of play it by ear."
Fister said he initially didn't feel pain, but felt the area tightening up shortly after being removed in the fourth inning Sunday.
"It didn't get any worse throughout the game, it was just a matter of being tight and sore, but nothing that was alarming at the time," Fister said.
Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said the strain affected Fister's follow-through and him finishing his pitch.
"It didn't bother him to push off, but it did bother him following through and finishing his pitch," Rand said. "So, that's what we've got to get him comfortable doing."
He lasted only 3 2/3 innings Sunday after giving up seven runs and walking three batters in a 7-5 loss to Baltimore. Six of the seven runs came with two outs.
"It’s still in one of those stages where it’s still tight, but I haven’t tried to stress it at all yet, so we’re just trying to take it slow," Fister said.
TIgers pitching coach Jeff Jones met with Fister on the mound Sunday in the second inning and Fister apparently told him he was OK. He echoed similar comments following the game.
"He said he was alright," Leyland said. "We checked in in the second inning and he was alright. That’s one of those Catch 22s, you know? So, we’ll just to wait and see how it plays out."
In the event Fister can't make his next start, it's unclear how the rotation will be rearranged or who would pitch in his place. The Tigers have an off day scheduled Monday.
"I don’t know. I can’t give you any details," Leyland said. "I can assure you that we will have a pitcher in his spot. Either him or somebody else and right now I can’t give you any information."
Isn't that what your team does?
ETA: Also the next chance they get, they should split up Sanchez and Porcello and stick Fister in-between. 16 of the next 19 are at home, if they aren't ahead of Chicago at the end of that they never will be.
