DETROIT (AP) -Tigers right-hander Jeremy Bonderman will miss his scheduled start Sunday against Minnesota because of an injured middle finger on his pitching hand.
Bonderman (2-0) developed two blisters in spring training, but said the latest injury to the tip of his middle finger is more of a cut than a blister.
Bonderman, who went 14-8 with a career-high 202 strikeouts to help the Tigers reach the World Series last season, said he expects to make his next start on May 18 at home against St. Louis.
“Missing one now is better than missing more games later in the year,” Bonderman said Friday before Detroit faced the Twins. “Hopefully we can get it better now and not have to worry about it.”
The Tigers plan to call up Virgil Vasquez from Triple-A Toledo to make the start on Sunday. The 24-year-old right-hander is 4-2 with a team-leading 2.88 ERA in seven starts for the Mud Hens this season.
The Tigers haven’t announced a corresponding roster move, but manager Jim Leyland said they’d announce a move either after the game Friday or before the game Saturday.
Leyland said he didn’t think Bonderman, who leads the team with 40 strikeouts, would have to go on the disabled list, but Detroit is playing it safe by skipping him in the rotation this time around.
“There’s no sense taking a chance,” Leyland said.
Leyland said Vasquez is expected to arrive in Minneapolis on Saturday, pitch Sunday, then head back down to Toledo on Monday.
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