Detroit Tigers: Michael Fulmer to disabled list, Edward Mujica called up

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer has been placed on the disabled list, per a tweet from the team’s official Twitter account. Edward Mujica takes his spot on the roster.

Detroit Tigers fans will see a team without Michael Fulmer in the short term as the starting pitchers hits the disabled list.

Fulmer has been the team’s best starting pitcher this season, with a 3.3 WAR in 140.1 frames.

In addition to a strong WAR number, Fulmer also owns a 3.59 ERA and a 3.44 FIP.

He’s only struck out 6.41 batters per nine innings, but is doing an excellent job of limiting damage, with just 1.99 walks and 0.64 home runs per nine frames.

Detroit announced the move to put Fulmer on the disabled list in a tweet on the team’s official Twitter account on Thursday:

The Tigers tweeted the following:

"“The #Tigers placed RHP Michael Fulmer on the 10-day DL today (retro to 8/1) with right elbow ulnar neuritis.”"

Detroit also announced a roster move to fill the starter’s place on the active roster in a tweet:

"“Additionally, RHP Edward Mujica had his contract selected from Toledo (AAA).”"

Thanks to the team’s activity at the trade deadline, Detroit had a few open 40-man roster spots to work with.

Edward Mujica

Mujica, who wasn’t on the team’s 40-man unit prior to the call-up, fills one of the empty spots.

A veteran of 10 Major League seasons, the right-hander owns a 3.85 ERA and a 3.88 FIP in 546.2 frames of work.

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He’s allowed just 1.5 walks and 1.3 home runs per nine innings in his career.

With Justin Wilson now in Chicago and Shane Greene stepping in as the new closer, Detroit has considerably fewer options to close games.

Joe Jimenez and Bruce Rondon look like potential closers down the line, but the Tigers may not want to throw either into high-leverage situations in the ninth inning just yet.

Mujica, who saved 37 games for the St. Louis Cardinals back in 2013 en route to earning All-Star honors, could provide some much-needed closer depth behind Greene.

The 33-year-old allowed two hits and an earned run in two innings in Thursday’s 7-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

All told, Mujica punched out two batters while surrendering a home run.

Replacing Fulmer

With Fulmer sidelined, it will certainly be interesting to see who the Detroit Tigers pick to start in the hurler’s scheduled start on Sunday.

In terms of options already in the Major League bullpen, Chad Bell or Drew VerHagen could absorb some innings early before making way for other relievers.

Next: Is James McCann still the long-term solution behind the plate?

Elsewhere, the Tigers could turn to Myles Jaye or Buck Farmer. Both pitchers are on the 40-man roster, but are currently with Triple-A Toledo.