Detroit Tigers roster news: Shelby Miller injury update, Ryan Vilade optioned

Shelby Miller was a big presence in the Detroit Tigers' bullpen to open the season, and a harmful one in the pen more recently. Now it's coming out that he battled an injury for some unknown portion of that time.

Miller pitched just once since May 5, facing two batters Saturday, and Monday the Tigers announced he was placed on the 10-day injured list with ulnar nerve inflammation.

Right-hander Beau Brieske got the call to Detroit to replace him on the roster.

Miller allowed no runs on two walks and no hits across seven innings in his first five appearances in the season. In the 9-1/3 innince he has thrown since then, he allowed nine runs on 11 hits and four walks. He picked up four losses and had two blown saves during that time.

The best case scenario for Miller and the Tigers is that it is only inflammation. Anything more could be a months-long recovery time.

Brieske has made appearances in 40 games for Detroit in his career. He posted a 3.60 ERA in 2023 across 25 games with one finished and one started. He struck out 31 and walked 12 batters in 35 innings.

This season with the Triple-A Mud Hens he has thrown 21-1/3 innings across 13 appearances and carries a 2.95 ERA. He has 22 strikeouts and 11 walks.

Ryan Vilade sent back to minors

The Tigers also announced Monday that Ryan Vilade was optioned back to Triple-A Toledo. The move was coupled with the others to make room for starting pitcher Matt Manning after Kenta Maeda was placed on the IL himself.

Vilade has two hits in nine at-bats with a walk. After an exciting first game up, in which he picked up his first major league hit, Vilade struggled to do much in his other appearances at the plate.

The Tigers called up outfielder Akil Baddoo over the weekend. He has a triple in his only plate appearance since the move.