Despite Dontrelle Willis's insistence that he was okay and could still pitch after slipping on a rain-soaked mound during last night's game, virtually everyone who saw a replay of his right leg stretch out as it slid on the mud knew that just didn't look good.  Willis was taken out of the game after facing two batters and initially diagnosed with a hyper-extended right knee.

A MRI exam today discovered stretches in the knee and hamstring, but no tear in either area.  According to reports, Willis asked the Tigers to wait to see if he recovered enough to make his next start, but the team decided not to take any risks.  Willis goes on the 15-day disabled list (for the first time in his career), and Ryan Raburn was recalled from Triple-A Toledo to take his place on the roster.  He was batting .316/.435/.737 with two home runs and six RBIs in 23 plate appearances for the Mud Hens.

Detroit's next move will come when Willis's turn in the rotation comes up on Wednesday against Cleveland.  The plan is to call up Armando Galarraga from the Mud Hens and give him the start.  In two starts this season for Toledo, he's posted a 2-0 record and 2.25 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 12 innings.  Galarraga was acquired from the Texas Rangers organization in early February.

Before this afternoon's game, the Detroit Tigers did a little bit of roster shuffling, bringing up a player who can hopefully help out right away, and sending down someone who just hasn't been able to get any playing time. 

Francis Beltran got the call from Triple-A Toledo, while Ryan Raburn - who's essentially been an invisible man thus far for Detroit - takes the trip down I-75 to join the Mud Hens.  Raburn's only action of the season thus far was pinch-running for Miguel Cabrera in the bottom of the ninth yesterday.  With Brandon Inge still being on the Tigers' roster (something I think everyone following the Tigers can be grateful for right now) and Clete Thomas playing as if he has no intention of being sent back to the minors, Raburn got squeezed out.

One immediate thought might be that Beltran's arrival is a reaction to Jason Grilli's seventh inning blowout yesterday, but according to the Detroit Free Press, the move is a sign that things aren't looking so good for Fernando Rodney.  During his bullpen session yesterday in Lakeland, Rodney had to stop throwing because he felt pain in his shoulder.  The Tigers' medical staff will wait a few days to see if he can throw again, but it's quite clear Rodney won't be rejoining the Detroit bullpen very soon.

The Tigers put Beltran to work right away, pitching him in the seventh and eighth innings, during which he gave up one run on a homer by Jermaine Dye.  Last season with Triple-A Norfolk in the Baltimore Orioles' organization, the right-handed Beltran pitched in 47 games, posting a 2-9 record and 4.70 ERA, along with 47 strikeouts in 59 innings.

 (via D-Town Baseball)