Detroit Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann suffered a right groin strain Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays, and it's uncertain when he'll return to action.
Continue for updates.
Zimmermann Removed vs. Rays
Sunday, May 22
The Tigers announced Zimmermann's injury after he left the game. Chris McCosky of the Detroit News noted Drew VerHagen replaced him on the mound.
Injury Sidelines Tigers' Top Starter
After spending the first seven seasons of his MLB career with the Washington Nationals, Zimmermann signed a free-agent deal with Detroit prior to the 2016 season. He is dominating this year—to the tune of a 6-2 record and 2.52 ERA.
The 29-year-old was brought in to join the top of the Tigers rotation after they dealt David Price at last year's trade deadline. The team's pitch in free-agency appealed to him, per Shawn Windsor of the Detroit Free Press.
"The Tigers made me their No. 1 priority," he said. "That felt good."
While Zimmermann enjoyed a solid 2015, going 13-10 with a 3.66 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, it was a down year by his standards. In 2014, he went 14-5 with a 2.66 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 182 strikeouts in 199.2 innings. In his first five seasons, he had compiled a 3.40 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 692.2 innings.
One thing Detroit likely didn't expect when it signed Zimmermann was injury concerns, as he has been one of the majors' most consistent and reliable starters over the past handful of seasons. From 2012 through 2015, he made at least 32 starts each year.
One of Zimmermann's greatest strengths is his durability. Since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2009, he has largely been healthy. The Tigers are undoubtedly hoping that will continue despite this injury. Unlike the Nats, Detroit may not have the pitching depth needed to make up for the long-term loss of one of its best starters, as the pressure will now shift to the likes of Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez, Mike Pelfrey and Michael Fulmer.
Pitching was the Tigers' Achilles' heel in 2015, as they ranked 28th in ERA (4.64) and 27th in WHIP (1.37). If Zimmermann is on the shelf for an extended period of time, those issues could crop up again.
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