KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Detroit Tigers right-hander Keider Montero will skip at least one turn in the rotation as he struggles to recover from his last start and reliever Brant Hurter is being pulled off a rehab assignment to work on his mechanics.
Manager A.J. Hinch said before a series opener Friday at Kansas City that Montero had to skip his bullpen session between starts, which is likely to push his next outing to next weekend when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit Detroit.
Montero allowed three runs in five innings in a 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Hinch said it wasn't unusual to give starters some extra rest this late in the season. The manager said the club was being cautious.
The Tigers will go with a bullpen game Sunday, which will bump left-hander Framber Valdez's next start to Monday at home against Tampa Bay. That would line up Jackson Jobe and Troy Melton to start on regular rest to finish the series against the Rays.
Hurter has been sidelined since late May with lumbar spine inflammation. The left-hander was five appearances into the rehab assignment when the club decided to pull the plug. Hurter allowed 10 earned runs on 11 hits with four walks in 3 2/3 rehab innings.
Hurter, who turns 28 next month, was 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 21 appearances before going on the injured list. He has 14 wins and a 2.56 ERA in 74 appearances with five starts over three big league seasons.
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