Tigers send Iván Nova to the IL, recall Anthony Castro

The Detroit Tigers announced on Saturday that veteran right-hander Iván Nova was placed on the 10-day injured list due to right triceps tendinitis with right-hander Anthony Castro called up to take his place, according to the press release on Twitter.

Nova, now in his 11th year of play in the majors, has struggled so far in 2020, posting an ERA of 8.35, an FIP of 6.34 and a WHIP of 1.63 along with nine walks and four home runs surrendered in 19 innings, striking out nine. His strikeout percentage is at a five-year low 10.2 percent, but his ground ball and line drive rates are at career bests of 56.7 and 13.4 percent, respectively. Still, the long-time former Yankees pitcher struggled in all four starts this season, with his last start on Friday ending in a fourth-inning meltdown en route to his worst outing of the year; there was no immediate indication of injury when he departed.

Castro gets the call after a less-than-stellar major league debut appearance back on July 27 against the Kansas City Royals. He allowed a walk and a hit — which happened to be a two-run homer — and struck out a batter in an inning of work. He was later demoted to the Tigers’ alternate training site on August 4 without throwing another pitch in Detroit.

At Double-A Erie in 2019, the 25-year-old from Caracas, Venezuela, posted a 4.40 ERA and 1.37 WHIP while striking out 116 and walking 65 in 102 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched, allowing just nine home runs. He maintained his performance level in the Arizona Fall League that year with a 4.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, with 20 strikeouts in 19 ²⁄₃ innings.

The big question is now who fills in the final spot in the rotation. While the fanbase clamors for the top prospects to make their way to Detroit — mostly, Case Mize — the Tigers appear to be persistent in their reluctance to call up the big kids just yet.