Detroit Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann went on the 15-day disabled list Monday due to a strained neck.
Continue for updates.
Anibal Sanchez to Start for Zimmermann
Monday, July 4
MLB.com’s Jason Beck reported the news on Zimmermann and stated Sanchez would fill in for him against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday evening.
This is another setback for Zimmermann, who suffered a groin injury earlier in the season. He also underwent Tommy John surgery in 2009, although he made at least 32 starts in every season from 2012 through 2015.
Thus far this season, Zimmermann has posted a solid 9-4 record with a 3.95 ERA.
The Tigers signed the 30-year-old before the 2016 campaign after he spent the first seven years of his career with the Washington Nationals.
He has posted a sub-4.00 ERA in every season since 2011 and was particularly spectacular in 2014 with a 2.66 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and 182 strikeouts in 199.2 innings. He also finished with a 2.94 ERA in 2012.
Detroit will be hard-pressed to replace the two-time All-Star, who also finished in the top 10 in National League Cy Young voting in 2013 and 2014. Fortunately for the Tigers, they have Michael Fulmer, Justin Verlander, Mike Pelfrey and Sanchez to turn to as they chase a postseason spot.
Still, the Tigers are a strong contender in the American League Central partially because of the dynamic Verlander-Zimmermann combination at the top of the rotation. They will miss Zimmermann’s production while he recovers.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com