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The Detroit Tigers have placed starting pitcher Doug Fister on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 29th, with what is being described as a left side strain.
The Tigers have called up left handed starting pitcher Casey Crosby from Toledo to take Fister's spot in the rotation. Crosby will get his first career start against the New York Yankees Friday night.
This is Fister's 2nd DL stint caused by left side issues. He was placed on the disabled list on April 7th with a "left costochondral strain," spending the next month rehabbing. You have to wonder if this most recent injury is an aggravation of his previous problem. It could also explain his ineffectiveness on Monday, lasting only 3 2/3 innings, easily Fister's worst start of the season.
23 year old Casey Crosby has 9 starts with Mud Hens in 2012, posting a 4-2 record with 4.26 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 43 H, 28 R, 24 ER, 4 HR, and a 57K/26BB ratio in 50.2 innings. Crosby was hit hard early on, but his last 2 starts have been a vast improvement. He tossed 8 innings, allowing only 5 hits and 2 runs on May 20th. On May 29th, Crosby went 7 innings, with 4 hits and 3 runs.
It's a nice comeback story for Crosby, who has battled through several arm injuries since being drafted by the Tigers in 2007. He sat out the entirety of the 2007 season due to Tommy John surgery, and missed long stretches of the 2008 and 2010 seasons with elbow issues.
Patrick posted an in-depth write up on Crosby before the season. Here's the money paragraph:
Casey has battled through his injuries to get this far, and he still has his blazing fast ball and scouts still wonder "what if." Between West Michigan in 2009 and Erie in 2011, he has a 19-11 record and racked up 238 strikeouts 236 innings. He is able to induce ground balls with regularity He has been an all-star team both seasons he has been healthy.
One also has to think the head-scratching call up of catcher Omir Santos from Toledo has more to do with Crosby than anything else. I wouldn't bet against Santos starting behind the plate Friday night.
Regardless, losing Fister for an extended period is another huge blow to what's been a very disappointing season.