DETROIT – Veteran Detroit Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann has been sidelined by forearm strain, raising questions about whether to start the season in the club’s initial rotation.
Zimmermann was scheduled to launch in the intrasquad on Friday night, but did not.
“His arm hurts a little,” said Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire. “We’re going to slow it down and have it checked and go from there.”
Gardenhire said the injury is a “concern,” but did not want to speculate on Zimmermann’s condition until it is reviewed.
“We will let the doctors look at it and get out of there.”
Zimmermann, 34, was one of the game’s best starting pitchers when he signed a five-year, $ 110 million contract prior to the 2016 season. But with the exception of a dominant first month in 2016, very little has gone well for him. in the Tigers uniform. He was 1-13 with a 6.91 ERA last season, but the Tigers chose not to release him this winter.
Their absence would create a question mark in the Tigers’ initial rotation.
Matthew Boyd, Ivan Nova and Spencer Turnbull currently hold points. Tyler Alexander, who pitched Friday, would be the most likely candidate to take Zimmermann’s place. For fifth place, the Tigers could use Michael Fulmer and a variety of long relievers. Left-hander Daniel Norris could also be an option, though it remains to be seen how fast he can increase after testing positive for COVID-19 last month.
The Tigers also have several young starters, including Casey Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, who could eventually join the rotation, though they are unlikely to do so from day one.
Zimmermann said in an interview two weeks ago that his main goal for 2020 was to stay healthy. It seems to have got off to a bad start.
Zimmermann had previously dealt with neck problems in 2016, shoulder problems in 2018, and elbow and back problems in 2019.
“I don’t think I really have anything to prove. I just want to end this past year by staying out of the DL, ”said Zimmermann. “I guess that’s my main goal is to get through these two months and not have any outbreaks and not have any problems with my neck or elbow or back or anything that has appeared on the road in the last four years.”
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