Ross headed for injured list with elbow issue

May 12th, 2019

MINNEAPOLIS -- became the latest Tigers starting pitcher to hit the injured list on Sunday when Detroit revealed the right-hander is dealing with right elbow ulnar neuritis.

Ross started to feel the injury in Friday’s start when he gave up six runs over five innings in a loss to Minnesota. Ross received treatment and didn’t feel any better when he went to throw before Sunday’s 5-3 win over the Twins, necessitating the move.

“It’s something waking up the next day, I was hoping it was going to be feeling better, but it wasn’t,” Ross said. “A couple days of treatment now, it hasn’t really improved and I wouldn’t be on track to make the next one.”

The Tigers also announced after Sunday’s win in Minnesota that second baseman would be activated from the injured list for Monday’s home game against the Astros. Harold Castro is being optioned to Triple-A.

Ross, 32, is 1-5 with a 6.11 ERA in seven starts this season. He dealt with a back injury while also missing time due to the birth of a child. The elbow injury is the latest setback for Ross, who has also had his career interrupted by thoracic outlet surgery.

“It’s something weird,” Ross said when asked to describe the pain. “It’s weird. We’ll leave it at that.”

Detroit is already without (Tommy John surgery), (right knee sprain) and (right elbow UCL sprain) in the rotation.

As for the rotation, “We’re working on it as we speak,” said Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire. “We’re going to have to find some, we’ve got a couple of holes here. [Ryan Carpenter is] going to start and we’ll have to figure out another one. It may be a bullpen day, if we have one left. ... This is kind of one of those things where he’s OK, but we’ve got to give him some time here.”

Carpenter is scheduled to make his second start this season on Tuesday. pitches Monday, and the team got a boost from Daniel Norris' 6 1/3 effective innings on Sunday.

“Anytime you got to go on the IL, it’s concerning,” Ross said. “But hopefully it can be a short stint and I can get back out there and help the guys out.”

Harrison, who has been out since April 27 with a left shoulder contusion, finished a rehab assignment with three games at Class A Advanced Lakeland where he hit .273/.333/.273.