DETROIT -- Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer will miss his turn in the rotation on Wednesday, as his next start will be pushed back to Saturday in order to rest his right shoulder, manager Brad Ausmus said on Tuesday.
Fulmer, who gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings in a loss on Thursday, had an MRI on Friday because he felt a pinch in his right shoulder. The MRI revealed inflammation in the bursa (called bursitis), but no structural damage. Fulmer received a cortisone shot on Friday as well and didn't travel to Boston, where the team played a three-game weekend series.
Fulmer said he felt fatigue in his shoulder dating to two starts ago, on June 2 against the White Sox. He played catch on Monday and Tuesday and said he feels fine. Neither Ausmus nor Fulmer expressed any long-term concern about the situation.
"I've never really had any shoulder problems -- knock on wood," Fulmer said. "And like I said, it wasn't major. I probably could've taken a ball five days from my last start, but they said they wanted to get (the shoulder) checked out."
Having allowed 10 earned runs the past 11 1/3 innings over two starts, Fulmer has endured the roughest two-start span of his young career. He said the inflammation could've hindered the delivery on his slider, but he didn't suggest it was to blame for his results.
"All I know is I played catch with my slider today and it's been the best it's been all year on flat ground," he said.
Jordan Zimmermann will take Fulmer's start on Wednesday, followed by Justin Verlander and Daniel Norris the next two days. Because of the off-day on Monday, all three pitchers will throw on regular rest.
Worth noting
• Right-hander Anibal Sanchez, who is on the seven-day DL with Triple-A Toledo, is scheduled to start on Wednesday against Gwinnett. In three starts with the Mud Hens this season, Sanchez is 0-2 with a 5.91 ERA in 10 2/3 innings.
• Tigers outfielder Jim Adduci, who has been on the 10-day DL since May 12 with a right oblique strain, feels hitting is his last hurdle before starting a rehab assignment. He's participated in running drills and soft toss, but he hopes to take on-field batting practice by the weekend.