Rondon throws back-to-back outings for first time

ANAHEIM -- Rehabbing reliever Bruce Rondon has cleared the hurdle of back-to-back outings that had been looming since Spring Training. The young fireballer retired the side in order Saturday night for Triple-A Toledo at Indianapolis.

Rondon pitched the fourth inning after a two-hour rain delay and threw 15 pitches -- 10 of them strikes -- to send down the middle of the Indianapolis order on two groundouts and a strikeout. He threw 17 pitches and 10 strikes Friday night in giving up three runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.

"Yesterday was a good outing," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Sunday afternoon. "Now he's got to throw one-plus [innings] Tuesday."

That's written down as an extended outing for Rondon, going 25-30 pitches and sitting down between innings. It's also the final outing currently scheduled for Rondon, whose rehab assignment began May 21. He's 11 days into an assignment that can go up to 20 days before Detroit has to make a decision on his status, no later than June 10.

"We'll probably have to talk about him Wednesday," Ausmus said.

Ausmus said they have not yet discussed who would be sent out to make room for Rondon in Detroit.

Rondon has been on the 15-day disabled list since Opening Day with biceps tendinitis. If he's activated, he could conceivably be available as soon as the end of the Tigers' three-game home set vs. Oakland on Tuesday. If not, he could stick with the Mud Hens through their upcoming six-game homestand.

Rondon still has Minor League options, so the Tigers could eventually decide to keep him in Toledo even after taking him off the 15-day DL.