Detroit Tigers: Zimmermann activated from IL, will start Wednesday

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann will make his first start in nearly two months on Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

The starting rotation for the Detroit Tigers has been struggling with injuries for quite some time now, but news of Jordan Zimmermann’s return on Wednesday is a big step in the right direction. The team announced ahead of Wednesday’s game in Pittsburgh that Zimmermann, who has been sidelined since late April with an elbow injury, has been reactivated from the IL and will start on Wednesday night.

The Tigers’ starting rotation is still without Matt Moore, who is out for the season, and Tyson Ross, who was recently moved to the 60-day IL. Zimmermann’s return means Detroit regains another one of its original starters, a big help for a team that’s been really struggling in the month of June.

Zimmermann’s last start for the Detroit Tigers came back on April 25th in Boston. The righty lasted just three innings and surrendered five earned runs on five hits.

The 33-year-old Zimmermann started off 2019 hot, tossing seven shutout innings on Opening Day for Detroit followed by a couple of solid starts to open the year. Before going to the IL with an elbow injury, Zimmermann was struggling a bit on the mound, surrendering five or more runs in each of his last three starts.

Taking the mound against Zimmermann for the Pirates on Wednesday is Trevor Williams. Williams is also making his return from the IL having been sidelined since mid-May with a side strain. So far this year, the righty has a solid 3.33 ERA and a 2-1 record through nine starts for Pittsburgh this season.

Adding Jordan Zimmermann back to the starting rotation should serve as a big help to the Detroit Tigers right now, something which they really need. Though he was struggling a bit before going on the IL, Zimmermann is a reliable veteran arm and his return helps eliminate some of the confusion currently plaguing Detroit’s starting rotation.