CLEVELAND -- The Tigers will have to fill starts without Daniel Norris in their rotation through at least the first series after the All-Star break. Detroit placed the young left-hander on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain suffered during Monday's 5-3 loss to the Indians at Progressive Field.
Norris spent Tuesday morning undergoing an MRI exam, which revealed a Grade 1 oblique strain. Recovery is expected to last 10-14 days, manager Brad Ausmus said Tuesday.
"He'd probably do a [rehab] start, I would imagine," Ausmus said. "But if it's only two weeks, I wouldn't think it would be much more than that."
On Wednesday, Norris will head to the Tigers' Spring Training facility in Lakeland, Fla., where he'll rehab through the Major League All-Star break next week. As disappointed as he was, he also was relieved that it wasn't as severe as the right oblique injury that cost him a month last August.
Buck Farmer has been recalled from Triple-A Toledo to fill Norris' spot for now, but Ausmus said he'll work out of the bullpen. That leaves Norris' slot open for Saturday's game at Toronto. Though Farmer has worked exclusively in relief while with the Tigers this season, he made 10 starts for the Mud Hens this season, albeit for a 6.86 ERA.
The more likely candidate would appear to be left-hander Matt Boyd, who started for the Hens on Sunday and held down a spot in the Tigers' rotation until Norris took over a couple weeks ago. He would have to go up against his former organization in Toronto, where the Blue Jays roughed him up for three home runs over six innings of five-run ball last August.
Boyd is a different pitcher now, having added a breaking ball to keep hitters honest, and he had more success against the Jays with 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball June 7 at Comerica Park. Still, his struggles in Toronto extended to two starts for the Blue Jays, allowing five home runs over 6 2/3 innings against the Rangers and Red Sox last summer.