‘Misfiring’: E-Rod hasn’t been the same for Tigers since returning from injury
Detroit Tigers left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who established himself as the ace of the pitching staff at the beginning of the season, walked five batters in his 23rd start, his most since August 2019 with the Boston Red Sox.
The 30-year-old gave up four runs, as well, in Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Comerica Park. An inability to unlock his pinpoint command was the culprit of his struggles in the game, highlighted by too many walks.
“That happens,” Rodriguez said Wednesday. “You’re going to have bad games and good games. I’m trying to have good games all the time. When bad games happen, you just turn the page and keep working, and take the good out of the bad and get ready for the next one.”
Rodriguez has a 3.32 ERA this season with 42 walks (7.6% walk rate) and 132 strikeouts (23.9% strikeout rate) across 1352⁄3 innings. His performance hasn’t been the same since returning July 5 from the injured list.
He missed 36 days — from May 29 through July 4 — with a ruptured pulley in his left index finger. The finger injury impacted the pressure he could put on the baseball at the end of his delivery, just before releasing the ball.
“He was misfiring,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said after Wednesday’s loss. “It was five walks, and two of them scored. He had a really hard time finishing his innings . ... But five walks is very uncommon for him. I know he had four walks last outing, five (walks) this time. That’s not how he pitches.”
Rodriguez, who had a 2.13 ERA in 11 starts before the finger injury, has a 4.50 ERA with 26 walks and 65 strikeouts across 68 innings in 12 starts since coming back from the injured list. He has produced 3.4 walks per nine innings in his last 12 starts compared to 2.1 walks per nine innings in his first 11 starts.
The problem is a lack of consistency with the command of his pitches.
“The command was really off on almost all of my pitches,” said Rodriguez after Wednesday’s loss. “The changeup was working, but it was bouncing most of the time, so they took advantage of it. So, that’s what I saw, that the command was off.”
During Wednesday’s game, Rodriguez tried to correct the command issues between innings, but he couldn’t find solutions. Without a quick fix, Rodriguez’s recent trend — too many walks — continued against the Reds.
He has logged 15 walks and 17 strikeouts
over his past four starts.
“I think I threw nine pitches (in the first inning), and those pitches were right where I wanted,” Rodriguez said. “After that was when it really shifted to the bad location. That’s what I feel like, overall, was the problem. I tried to fix it during the game, but it wasn’t working.”
Ready to go?
Right-hander Spencer Turnbull has missed back-to-back scheduled starts in Triple-A Toledo because of a cracked nail on the big toe of his left foot. The Tigers optioned Turnbull to the Mud Hens on Aug. 23, but he hasn’t pitched in the minor leagues since the demotion.
Turnbull, who performed poorly during his rehab assignment in return from neck discomfort, is expected to start Thursday night against Triple-A Columbus. The game will begin at 6:35 p.m. at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio.
“It’s scheduled,” said Hinch, who spoke with Tigers vice president of player development Ryan Garko on Thursday morning. “We’re hoping he gets on the mound. I knew he threw his bullpen and things are getting better
for him, but we’re certainly ready for him to post and pitch.”
Pitching plan
The Tigers have two starting pitchers locked in for the upcoming three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels: left-hander Tarik Skubal on Friday and right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long on Saturday.
The starter for Sunday’s series finale hasn’t been determined yet.
Left-hander Joey Wentz, though, will pitch Sunday in some capacity, meaning the Tigers could use a reliever — such as right-hander Beau Brieske — as a multi-inning opener. Wentz, 25. has a 6.65 ERA with 43 walks, 84 strikeouts and a 2-11 record over 931⁄3 innings in 22 games (18 starts) this season.
“We may do an opener, maybe two openers, and then get to Joey in the middle part of the game,” Hinch said. “We’ll determine that based on the next three games on who’s available and what the best way is.”
Designated hitter Miguel Cabrera is scheduled to start Friday and Saturday against the Angels, but he won’t start Sunday.