It’s safe to say that Michael Fulmer‘s first game action since 2018 didn’t exactly go the way he or the team had envisioned.
In the 2.2 innings he pitched (on a limited workload) in Detroit’s home opener against the Kansas City Royals, Fulmer yielded four runs on five hits and one walk on 47 pitches.
“Just a little rusty,” he explained of his outing. “I’m not going to make excuses. I was ready, I told everybody I was ready and I’m going to do a better job next time.”
Of course, he could be excused for being “rusty”, as his last action came in September of 2018. For the time being, the Tigers plan on using him in an “openers” role, usually going three-four innings. For manager Ron Gardenhire, he doesn’t appear too concerned.
“We’re probably going to stay with this program,” Gardenhire said. “Hopefully, he gets through these three innings. He just got a little roughed up there at the end, but he made some really good pitches.
Fulmer, who could get as many as 10-12 additional starts this year, knows he needs to be better.
“I can’t really use my go-to saying anymore that it’s a long season, because it’s really not,” Fulmer said. “I’ve got to figure things out quick, and I think we will.”
– – Quotes via Evan Woodbery of MLive Link – –
BONUS CONTENT: EX TIGER ALEX WILSON ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Alex Wilson has decided to call it a career.
He originally came to the Tigers from the Boston Red Sox in 2014 as part of a package that sent pitcher Rick Porcello the other way. On May 27, 2015, he made his first career start with Detroit, throwing 52 pitches in three scoreless innings.
In September of 2017, his season ended after suffering a non-displaced fractured right fibula after getting hit by a line drive from Joe Mauer.
