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So much for that hot start. Trevor Rosenthal was designated for assignment after the Tigers’ 8-1 loss against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon, the team announced. The Tigers also optioned righthander Eduardo Jimenez to Triple-A Toledo. No corresponding moves have been announced yet.
Rosenthal has endured a brutal 2019 season after returning from Tommy John surgery. He originally signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals, but was quickly jettisoned after allowing 16 runs in just 6 1⁄3 innings. It took him five appearances to record his first out of the season, and he walked 15 batters in 12 games in a Nationals uniform.
Rosenthal seemed to settle in after signing with the Tigers, though. He struggled a bit down in Triple-A, but worked scoreless innings in three of his first four appearances with the Tigers, and did not allow an earned run until his fifth outing. He posted a 2.57 ERA in seven July innings, striking out 10 batters along the way. Even into August, Rosenthal didn’t start to struggle until this week; he threw a scoreless inning against the Texas Rangers over the weekend, but allowed five runs across two lackluster appearances in the previous series against the White Sox.
Though he was keeping runs off the board, Rosenthal was still struggling something fierce with his command. He walked seven batters in his seven July innings, and has since walked four more across his last three appearances. That brings him to 26 walks in just 15 1⁄3 innings this season, and a 13.50 ERA.
Tigers' decision to DFA Trevor Rosenthal basically came down to struggles up and down their pitching staff.
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) August 7, 2019
"The big thing with him is just one inning at a time, and we just have a hard time keeping it one inning at a time," Gardenhire said. "We need multiple-inning guys."
Jimenez has been a bit better through his first few innings at the major league level this year, but not by much. The 24-year-old righthander has a 5.91 ERA in 10 2⁄3 innings this year, with eight strikeouts to five walks. He was jettisoned to the minors after throwing 52 pitches in Wednesday’s loss.
Following these two moves, the Tigers have two open spots on their 25-man roster that will be filled prior to Thursday’s game. They also now have an open spot on their 40-man roster. Righthander David McKay, who the Tigers claimed off waivers earlier this week, is not eligible to be called up until August 16, as he was optioned to Triple-A Toledo after the Tigers claimed him. The Tigers will need another starting pitcher for their Friday night tilt with the Kansas City Royals, so it’s possible that one of the open roster spots is reserved for Ryan Carpenter that pitcher.