Tigers place Jordan Zimmermann on 10-day injured list

The Detroit Tigers have placed starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann on the 10-day injured list with a right cervical spasm. Eduardo Jimenez, who was just optioned back to Triple-A Toledo after Sunday’s game, has been recalled to take Zimmermann’s place on the roster. He will work out of the bullpen, for now. Righthander Victor Alcantara has also been activated from the injured list and optioned to Toledo.

In 15 starts for a total of 72 innings, Zimmermann has a 1-8 record with a 7.13 ERA for the season. He spent almost two months on the injured list earlier this year (from April 26 to June 19) with a right elbow sprain. Injuries have plagued the veteran righthander since he signed a five-year contract worth $110 million prior to the 2016 season.

Zimmermann allowed four runs in 4 ¹⁄₃ innings against the Texas Rangers on Sunday in what turned out to be a no decision. He won his first game of the season in Anaheim in his previous start.

Zimmermann has never thrown more than 160 innings in a season for Detroit, after four straight seasons with at least 195 innings for the Washington Nationals through the 2015 season. During his tenure with the Tigers, he has posted a 5.53 ERA, 4.87 FIP, and a 1.44 WHIP.

Alcantara suffered a right middle finger contusion and was placed on the injured list on July 24. He carries a 5.31 ERA in 43 appearances this season.

Jimenez returns with a 7.71 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 4:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in six appearances over seven innings this season. The team will likely call up another starting pitcher by the time Zimmermann’s turn in the rotation comes around again on Friday in Kansas City. In the meantime, Jimenez will see action in mostly low leverage situations for Detroit.