Lobstein to DL; Farmer will replace him in rotation

Detroit – Tigers manager Brad Ausmus has felt for some time that left-hander Kyle Lobstein wasn't completely healthy. Confirmation of that came Sunday.

Lobstein was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of soreness in his left shoulder.

"In the back of my mind I felt something might be wrong," Ausmus said. "His velocity has been down all year ... but he kept going out there and doing OK, giving us a chance to win."

Lobstein had an MRI Sunday and he was pleased and relieved by the initial finding.

"Yeah, just inflammation in my shoulder," he said. "It's a relatively good prognosis for feeling discomfort in my shoulder. At this point, just trying to get the inflammation out."

It seems surgery will be avoided.

"It gives me a little bit of peace of mind knowing it's something we can take care of relatively quickly and easily," he said.

In the short-term, the Tigers recalled shortstop Dixon Machado from Toledo to replace Lobstein. But president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said that right-hander Buck Farmer would be recalled from Toledo and pitch in Lobstein's spot on Thursday in Anaheim.

"We figured with the way our club is situated, our bullpen is fully rested and Jose (Iglesias) will be out a day or two, what would benefit us the best is having another infielder available," Dombrowski said. "And Dixon has done very well at Triple-A and he's deserving of a promotion."

Dombrowski said another move will be made on Wednesday to activate Farmer. He wouldn't specify who would be sent back down, but unless the Iglesias injury is worse than expected, Machado is the likely candidate.

Asked if the promotion of Machado impacts utility infielder Hernan Perez, Dombrowski said, "It doesn't affect him at all. Machado isn't going to come here and sit on the bench for a long period of time. That's not his situation. He needs to play at this point in his career."

Lobstein made his eighth start of the season Saturday and was uncharacteristically wild. He admitted afterward he didn't feel right, but his shoulder soreness goes back to last winter.

"Talking to Jonesy (pitching coach Jeff Jones), the shoulder started bothering him in the winter when he started throwing," Ausmus said. "It went away for a couple of weeks in spring training, then it came back toward the end of spring training or at the start of the season.

"He admitted it hasn't been right."

Farmer, one of the final cuts in spring training, is 5-1 with a 2.98 ERA at Toledo. He has struck out 50 in 51.1 innings and his WHIP is 1.17.

"Buck is throwing the ball very well," Dombrowski said. "He continues to develop. From an ideal perspective, you'd let him continue to develop. But his fastball is in the mid-90s, he has an above average change-up and a developing slider. Plus he's been here before. He's got some experience."

He was 1-1 in two starts and he also made two relief appearances with the Tigers last season.

This will be the first call-up to the big leagues for Machado, who accompanied the team on its flight to Oakland Sunday.

"He's a good player," Ausmus said. "He had a reputation as an outstanding defensive player, but he's shown us that he can hit the ball, as well. He's a good kid who works hard. It will be good to have him up here."