The Detroit Tigers scratched pitcher Rick Porcello from Friday's start against the Miami Marlins, reports George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press.
Rick Porcello scratched from start, shifting to bullpen
The Tigers are moving Porcello to the bullpen, where he is expected to pitch during the postseason.
Leon Halip
Jose Alvarez will start in place of Porcello. Detroit expects Porcello to pitch on Friday, but he will come out of the bullpen instead of starting the game.
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This move likely indicates how the Tigers will use their pitchers during the post-season. Detroit is expected to use a four-man rotation, which will include Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Anibal Sanchez and Doug Fister. Porcello will likely pitch out of the bullpen during the playoffs, so the Tigers likely want to give him some experience coming in during the middle of a game instead of starting it.
Porcello started 29 games for Detroit in 2013, going 13-8 with a 4.38 ERA. The right-hander did increase his strikeout rate to a career high 7.16 batters per nine innings while lowering his walk rate. Porcello has only made one appearance out of the bullpen for Detroit, throwing two shutout innings against the Oakland Athletics on April 14.
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