The Detroit Tigers think they dodged another starting pitching injury.
This time, it's the organization's most important player: Young right-hander Michael Fulmer.
Fulmer experienced "pinching" in his right shoulder over the course of his last couple starts and underwent a MRI test over the weekend. The results showed shoulder bursitis _ inflammation in the bursa sacs _ and he was treated with a cortisone shot.
Neither he nor manager Brad Ausmus expressed any concern over the issue, something concurred by a sports medical expert, who said shoulder bursitis is very common in pitchers.
"Just a little pinching here and there," Fulmer said. "It wasn't bad, but I just kind of mentioned something to them when I came out that it didn't feel the best. Just never fully recovered like I felt like, just always fatigued and a little tired."
Fulmer played catch on Monday and Tuesday and felt "great," he said. He is scheduled to start next on Saturday against the Tamp Bay Rays, manager Brad Ausmus said.
Asked of his concern, Ausmus said, "None. Zero. Absolutely none. Just because you get a MRI doesn't mean there's a long-term concern. We pretty much MRI everything. You fall off your bike and scrape your knee, you get a MRI."
But while it seems the news wasn't bad, it certainly can't be counted as good.
Fulmer said he has never had any shoulder issues in the past, "knock on wood," and that he probably could have taken the ball on five days' rest Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"But they wanted to get it checked out, a little fluid in the bursa sacs here, and we got it taken care of now as opposed to a few weeks from now where I'd miss extended time," he said.
The shoulder soreness could be evidenced in his stat lines the last two outings: In his last 11 1/3 innings against the White Sox and Angels, respectively, Fulmer has allowed 10 earned runs on 16 hits. He allowed 20 earned runs in the first 10 starts of the season, all quality starts.
He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday afternoon.
Ausmus said the MRI showed no structural damage in his right shoulder.
After winning the American League rookie of the year award last season, Fulmer has emerged as a front-line pitcher this season: In 12 starts, he is 6-4 with a 3.40 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, with 60 strikeouts in 791/3 innings.
The Tigers have been fortunate on the starting pitching injury front this season. There have been bumps and bruises, like Justin Verlander's right groin tightness recently and Jordan Zimmermann getting hit in the hamstring with a comebacker on Friday against the Red Sox, but they have not had a starter miss an assignment because of injury.
If they were to lose Fulmer _ or Verlander or even Zimmermann, for that matter _ they would be in a heap of trouble in the starting rotation.
Zimmermann will start on Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, Verlander will pitch on Thursday against the Rays and Daniel Norris will follow him in the rotation.
"I feel bad for the other guys, because they couldn't get an extra day of rest," Fulmer said. "But I feel healthy now, so it's all good from here."
