The Detroit Tigers demoted one of their struggling starting pitchers and the New York Yankees lost their closer to an injury. These two American League clubs need to figure out a way to improve their pitching staff in the meantime.
Detroit removed Shane Greene from their starting rotation and sent him to Triple-A Toledo on Friday, according to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. The right-hander's start to the 2015 season was among the best in the MLB, but he's witnessed a radical fall from grace ever since.
After going 3-0 and giving up one earned run in his first three starts (23 innings) with the Tigers, the 26-year-old Greene is now 4-6 with a 5.82 ERA and 1.397 WHIP in 13 starts this season. The 10 starts that followed his unprecedented debut with Detroit have yielded a 1-6 record with an 8.60 ERA.
Manager Brad Ausmus did not reveal the team's plan with Greene on Thursday, according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. Greene's latest start came against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday and he surrendered five earned runs on seven hits and one walk in three innings of work. That was clearly the final straw for Ausmus.
The good news is that the club gets Justin Verlander back on Saturday and he'll make his 2015 debut.
In New York, the Yankees lost closer Andrew Miller because of a strained forearm muscle and he was placed on the 15-day disabled list two days ago, according to Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com. Manager Joe Girardi said the left-hander made it known on Tuesday night that he was experiencing discomfort in his forearm. An MRI on Wednesday revealed a strain of the flexor mass.
However, Miller's stint on the DL will not be the minimum 15 days. General manager Brian Cashman told Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News that the closer could miss up to a month of action. Cashman said Miller will be shut down for two weeks and then begin a throwing program, which now puts an even larger strain on the overworked Yankees' bullpen.
Prior to Miller's injury, trade rumors surfaced and suggested New York would chase more established bullpen arms to provide relief for Miller and setup man Dellin Betances, who have thrown a combined 58 2/3 innings this season.
It wouldn't be surprising if Cashman explores the market over the next week to acquire another experienced reliever capable of contributing in the bullpen right now and providing further help after Miller returns.
