Doug Fister Injury: Tigers Pitcher Officially Activated From DL

On Friday night, the Detroit Tigers announced via the Twitter account of Brian Britten that right-handed starting pitcher Doug Fister will be activated from the disabled list on Saturday after missing time with a left side strain. In addition, the club optioned Matt Young and Casey Crosby to Triple-A Toledo and recalled Thad Weber.

Tigers option M. Young and C. Crosby to Toledo. Fister reinstated on Saturday. Thad Weber will be recalled from Toledo on Saturday.

— Brian Britten (@BBritten_Tigers) June 16, 2012

Fister will make his return start on Saturday when the Tigers host the Colorado Rockies at Comerica Park. His last appearance came on May 28 against the Boston Red Sox when he allowed six runs on 11 hits in five innings pitched. Fister will look to record his first win of the season, as he is 0-3 in six starts this year.

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Doug Fister Injury: Tigers Pitcher To Come Off DL, Start Saturday

Doug Fister, who has been on the disabled list with a strain in his left side, will make his first start in more than two weeks on Saturday, according to Detroit Tigers media relations director Brian Britten:

Leyland has announced Fister will start on Saturday. #tigers

— Brian Britten (@BBritten_Tigers) June 14, 2012

Fister last took the hill on May 28, when he was shelled for 11 hits and six earned runs in 5.0 innings. He had given up just six earned runs combined in the three starts prior to that, so something certainly seemed amiss.

Fister has been sidelined twice this season for issues with his left side. His first stint on the DL lasted a month, from April 8 to May 7, but he came back and dominated -- until his most recent setback.

Earlier Thursday, the Tigers announced that rookie pitcher Drew Smyly has been placed on the DL with a blister.

The Tigers will play the Colorado Rockies at home in Fister's return.

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Doug Fister Injury: Tigers Pitcher Won't Have Wednesday Return

There was some optimism for Detroit Tigers pitcher Doug Fister in his latest DL stint. He will be eligible to return to the Tigers and play again after being on the 15 day disable list on Wednesday, but according to MLB.com beat writer Jason Beck, Fister will not be returning that quickly.

Fortunately, it looks like the return won't be delayed for too long past the projected original return date, though the Tigers might be forced to do a bit of pitcher rotation shuffling until he finally makes his return:

Fister will rest for another day or two, then throw another session and see how he feels, head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said Sunday. If he feels fine after that, he should be close to a return.

With Wednesday out of the question for Fister, the start that night against the Cubs will fall to Rick Porcello on his regular four days’ rest. Justin Verlander will still start Thursday afternoon’s series finale against the Cubs.

The 15 day DL stint that Fister will be able to leave on Wednesday is his second appearance of the year, with both coming because of a strain in the pitcher's left side.

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Doug Fister Injury: Pitcher's 2nd DL Stint Will Be Shorter, Tigers Trainer Reports

Doug Fister's second stint on the disabled list won't last as long as his first, according to Detroit Tigers trainer Kevin Rand. Fister underwent an MRI on his strained left side Wednesday, and results showed that fluid had reappeared in the area. Nonetheless, Rand said that he does not anticipate the starting pitcher missing a month like he did beginning in April.

"From our standpoint, we were looking for two things," Rand said. "We were trying to rule out stress reaction in the bone, or we were trying to rule out if there was any new damage done. You would see acute bleeding if that was the case. We did not see any of that, so that was all good."

Rand did say that the injury had not fully resolved, necessitating another turn on the DL to let things "cool down." Fister initially sustained the injury, dubbed a "left condochostral strain," on April 7. He was forced to leave a game against the Boston Red Sox in obvious pain off the mound.

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Doug Fister Injury: MRI 'Showed Something' According To Leyland

Detroit Tigers starter Doug Fister is headed to the disabled list with a lingering strain on his left side. What's causing the the injury to stick around is unclear, but an MRI taken after his most recent trip to the DL was announced "showed something" according to manager Jim Leyland.

Fister MRI "showed something", said #Tigers Leyland.. "Showed what the other one showed (left side side) but was termed differently."

— Tom Gage (@Tom_Gage) May 31, 2012

Fister is 0-3 on the year with a 3.15 earned run average. He made his first appearance on the DL this season after an April 7 start against the Boston Red Sox that he left early holding his side in obvious pain. Casey Crosby will start Friday against the New York Yankees in place of Fister.

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Doug Fister Injury: 'Got To Dance' Fine Line In Return From DL

Detroit Tigers starter Doug Fister isn't offering up predictions for when he might return from the disabled list, according to an article from MLive.com. Fister has dealt with an injury to his left torso.

From MLive.com:

"It's frustrating," Fister said, "but it's just something I've got to do"

[...]

"It's a fine line," Fister said. "You've got to dance it, and you've got to take it one step at a time and figure it out from there."

Before his last outing, Fister had a sterling 1.84 ERA through five starts. He then got touched up in that appearance on the mound, giving up 11 hits and six earned runs in five innings. Now, it's back to the DL.

Casey Crosby, who had a 4.26 ERA and 4-2 record in nine Triple-A starts, was called up to take Fister's spot.

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Doug Fister Injury: Tigers Pitcher Going Back To Disabled List With Left Side Strain

The Detroit Tigers can't escape issues with their rotation. Not too long after returning to the club from the disabled list and a stint with the Mud Hens, it looks like starting pitcher Doug Fister is on his way back to the disabled list, according to Chris Iott on Twitter:

Tigers place Doug Fister on disabled list. Left side strain. Casey Crosby to start Friday night against the Yankees. #Tigers

— Chris Iott (@Chris_Iott) May 30, 2012

Fister initially saw the DL due a strain in his left side, so it's troubling to see that the injury is still lingering. He didn't pitch for a whole month the last time he was out, and then went five games following his stint. He's 0-3 on the season but hasn't been playing poorly, with a 3.15 earned run average, mostly due to his most recent outing in which he gave up six runs.

As noted, Crosby will make the start on Friday, which is actually where Rick Porcello was supposed to start. Instead, Porcello will go to Fister's initial spot on Saturday evening against the Yankees. There's no word yet on whether or not it is exactly the same problem ailing Fister, but it's probably a safe assumption.

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Doug Fister Injury Update: Brayan Villareal Optioned To Triple-A Toledo To Clear Roster Spot

Detroit pitcher Doug Fister looks to be completely healthy after a four-inning rehab start, and the 6-foot-8 hurler is expected to take the mound for the Tigers' road game against Seattle on Monday.

Fister left his April 7th start against the Boston Red Sox holding his side in obvious pain, and was quickly sent to the 15-day disabled list with a costochondral strain. To make room for Fister on the active roster on Sunday, the Tigers optioned reliever Brayan Villarreal to Triple-A Toledo.

Tigers optioned RHP Brayan Villarreal to Toledo following today's game. RHP Doug Fister will be reinstated from DL tomorrow. #tigers

— Brian Britten (@BBritten_Tigers) May 6, 2012

The 24-year-old Villarreal has pitched in four games for the Tigers so far this season and has yet to allow a run. He remains a viable minor league option if Detroit suffers injuries to its pitching staff in the future, but could struggle to stand out from his peers unless he's given an extended look in the bigs.

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Doug Fister Injury Update: Tigers' Pitcher Feels Good After Rehab Start, Should Start Monday

Doug Fister started for Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday night with head coach Jim Leyland on hand and all signs indicate that Fister will be ready to return to the rotation on Monday.

Fister needed 68 pitches to make it through four scoreless innings, in which he allowed just two hits and struck out five batters while walking one. Assuming Fister's body recovers well, he will make his next start for the Tigers:

"I feel good," said Fister, with his shoulder and torso wrapped in ice in the Mud Hens clubhouse. "I can't really ask for anything more right now. I let it fly tonight. We're still going to take it day by day but we're expecting the best as of right now." [...]

"It's been a while (feeling pain)," Fister said. "I've thrown a couple of bullpens before and they were full-tilt.

"Tonight went out there and pitched like I would normally pitch. Didn't really feel anything, so it was good."

Fister left his first start of the season back on April 7 with what was diagnosed as a strained muscle in his left side.

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Doug Fister Injury: Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland Will Attend Rehab Start

Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland will attend Doug Fister's rehab start Wednesday in Triple-A Toledo. Via Jason Beck of MLB.com:

Fister will stretch out to 75 pitches for @MudHens Wednesday. If that goes well, #Tigers plan to start him Monday in Seattle.

— Jason Beck (@beckjason) April 30, 2012

Fister has been on the disabled list since April 8, following his first start of the season against the Boston Red Sox when he was forced to leave the game due to a left costochondral strain. Last season, Fister made 10 starts for the Detroit Tigers following his trade, piling up an 8-1 record with an ERA of 1.79.

After a hot start, the Tigers have lost eight of their last 10 games and currently sit tied for second in the Central Division standings with the Chicago White Sox.

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Doug Fister Injury Update: Detroit Tigers' Pitcher Ready For Rehab Start On Wednesday

Detroit Tigers pitcher Doug Fister continues to make progress in rehabbing his back injury and is reportedly set to make a rehab start in Toledo, according to the Tigers.

Doug Fister is scheduled to start for AAA Toledo on Wednesday versus Pawtucket as part of an injury rehabilitation assignment.

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 29, 2012

The right-handed Fister strained a muscle in his back during the fourth inning of his first start of the season back on April 7th against the Boston Red Sox. The Tigers' pitching rotation could use a boost from the return of Fister, the number two starter behind Justin Verlander. Detroit is 1-5 in their last six games and trying to keep pace in what has been a mediocre American League Central Division in the early part of the season.

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Doug Fister Injury Update: Tigers' Pitcher On Track For Rehab Start

After throwing a pain free bullpen session on Friday, his first since having to shut one down due to discomfort on April 17, Doug Fister appears ready to take on a rehab start with the Toledo Mud Hens before rejoining the Tigers' rotation, according to beat writer Jason Beck:

Doug Fister on track for rehab start with @MudHens this coming week. Leyland: "If everything goes right, he should be back real soon."

— Jason Beck (@beckjason) April 28, 2012

Fister was injured in his first start of the season in the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox, suffering a left costochondral strain.

Left-hander Adam Wilk replaced Fister in the rotation at first, but after two consecutive poor starts, Duane Below is scheduled to make Fister's next start on Monday against the Kansas City Royals.

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Doug Fister Injury: Detroit Tigers Pitcher Completes Bullpen Session Without Pain

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Doug Fister threw a bullpen session for the first time since April 17, when he had to cut the throwing short after 12 pitches due to abdominal pain.

Fister reportedly threw about 50 pitches Thursday and didn't feel any soreness or pain when interviewed Friday. Via Chris Iott of MLive.com:

"He had a really good session yesterday and feels really good today," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Friday. "There were no setbacks."

Fister started the second game of the season for Detroit and pitched 3 and 2/3 scoreless innings before leaving with a left costochondral strain and going on the disabled list on April 8. After a midseason trade brought him to Detroit last season, Fister made eight starts for the Tigers, racking up eight wins to one loss and an ERA of 1.79.

Duane Below will fill in for Fister in the pitching rotation until his return.

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Doug Fister Injury: Duane Below Will Start Monday For Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland announced Friday that Duane Below will start in place of the injured Doug Fister Monday and for all subsequent starts until Fister is healthy, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com.

Duane Below will start Monday and for however much longer Fister is out, Leyland announces. #Tigers

— Jason Beck (@beckjason) April 27, 2012

Fister was placed on the 15-Day disabled list on April 7, but has experienced pain in short throwing sessions following the rib injury. There is no timetable for his return as he works slowly to rehabilitate from the injury.

In five relief appearances this season, Below has pitched 12 innings, allowing no runs on seven hits, while striking out nine batters. He recorded a 4.34 ERA in 14 games - two starts - last season.

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Doug Fister Injury: Detroit Tigers Pitcher Cuts Throwing Session Short

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Doug Fister underwent a setback in his rehabilitation when he had to cut a throwing session short Wednesday, according to Chris Iott of MLive.com.

"He went up off the mound yesterday and he wasn't ready to really let it go full," Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said Wednesday afternoon. "We're backing off him for a couple of days here and giving him a chance to kind of regroup a little bit."

Rand said Fister cut the session short because he had some pain in his abdomen.

Fister threw for the first time since going on the 15-day disabled list April 8 for a left costochondral strain on Tuesday. He is eligible to return to the roster on Monday, but it doesn't appear he'll be ready to pitch.

Fister, 28, was traded from the Seattle Mariners to Detroit during last season. In 10 starts, he compiled an 8-1 record with an ERA of 1.79.

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Doug Fister Injury: Detroit Tigers Pitcher Throws Off Mound For 1st Time Since Injury

Detroit Tigers pitcher Doug Fister threw 10 pitches off a mound Monday afternoon--his first since going on the 15-Day Disabled List on April 8 with a left chostocondral strain. Via Chris Iott of Mlive.com:

Fister said he had a good long-toss session before throwing about 10 fastballs off the mound. He is eligible to return from the disabled list in a week, but he said he doesn't know what the timeframe is for his return.

"Just taking it day-by-day and not projecting too much," he said. "Obviously, I want to be pitching, but it's just a bump in the road."

Fister, 28, allowed three hits in 3 2/3 scoreless innings April 7 in his first start of the season before coming out of the game due to the injury. Brayan Villarreal was recalled from Triple-A Toledo to take his place on the roster.^[28]

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Doug Fister Injury: Tigers Pitcher Placed On 15-Day Disabled List

Our worst fears have been confirmed: Detroit Tigers righthander Doug Fister will be placed on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday with a left costochondral (rib) strain. MLB.com's Jason Beck broke the seemingly inevitable news, in addition to the subsequent call-up of Brayan Villarreal to assume Fister's roster spot.

Fister left today's start against the Boston Red Sox in the fourth inning holding his side in clear pain, so a DL stint is not necessarily a shock in this case. Even though Detroit went on to demolish the visiting Red Sox 10-0, the prospect of losing such an important piece of the starting rotation, for any length of time, is a frustrating concept for the Tigers brass.

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Doug Fister Injury: Tigers' Pitcher Leaves Game With Left Side Strain

With the Tigers leading the Red Sox 2-0 with two outs in the top of the fourth inning, Doug Fister came up holding his left side after throwing a ball to Ryan Sweeney. Fister's next pitch was similarly off-target and also signaled Jim Leyland and trainer Kevin Rand, who hustled to the mound to check on Fister.

After a fairly lengthy talk, Fister was removed from the game in favor of Duane Below. FOX announced the injury as being a left side strain, but no other details were immediately available.

Fister was removed from a start during Spring Training with finger soreness, but he never missed any subsequent starts. A left side strain is a different animal, as it's something that could linger and cause further problems.

For what it's worth, Fister did not seem like he wanted to come out of the game, but Rand was doing most of the talking and ultimately Fister exited the game. Hopefully, Leyland and Rand were simply erring on the side of caution rather than allowing the injury to deteriorate over the course of the game.

Fister made it through 3.2 innings, gave up three hits, walked one and struck out three before leaving with the injury. Unfortunately, he won't be in line for a win.

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