Reliever Putkonen set for rehab assignment

DETROIT -- Tigers long reliever Luke Putkonen, who is eligible to come off the disabled list, threw another side session on Monday and will report to Class A West Michigan on Wednesday to begin a rehab assignment.

Inflammation in the elbow sidelined Putkonen after his last outing on April 18. West Michigan is the destination for his rehab assignment because Triple-A Toledo is on the road at Pawtucket.

"We will see how it goes," manager Brad Ausmus said. "If everything goes well, he'll probably have another rehab stint."

Ausmus added that Putkonen's second rehab outing would probably not be with West Michigan. Toledo returns home Friday. Putkonen's eventual return will give the Tigers their long reliever back. Detroit's bullpen has the third-worst ERA in the Majors (5.31).

"I felt good," Putkonen said Saturday after a Friday bullpen session. "I spun a few curveballs at the end."