DETROIT -- The Tigers' bullpen has been arguably the brightest spot of Detroit’s strong start this season. It now has the first test of its depth with the loss of setup man Buck Farmer.

Farmer has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain, the team announced Monday afternoon. The initial timetable for his return is 10-14 days, according to head athletic trainer Doug Teter.

Farmer suffered his injury on his final pitch in Sunday’s 2-1 win against Pittsburgh. He allowed a hit and a walk, but he stranded the potential tying run on second base with a Bryan Reynolds groundout to first for his fourth hold in as many chances this season. Farmer has allowed two runs on four hits over 6 1/3 innings with three walks and a strikeout.

Beau Burrows was recalled from the alternate training site in Toledo to take his place, but who fills Farmer’s eighth-inning role will be a bigger question. Manager Ron Gardenhire said he’ll handle eighth-inning leads by situations and matchups rather than relying on one setup reliever.

“We’ve got some guys that are throwing the ball really good,” Gardenhire said. “We’ll just go situations with him. We’re fortunate that we have some guys throwing the ball pretty good that we can move around a little bit, but we’re going to miss Buck, because Buck’s been pretty good in that situation.”

In other words, the Tigers will continue to try to choose their spots for lefty fireballer Gregory Soto, whose 100 mph fastball has become the talk of their pitching staff. Soto has allowed one hit and one walk with 10 strikeouts over 7 2/3 scoreless innings this season. He has struck out six of the nine left-handed batters he has faced; the only lefties to reach base off him did so on a walk and a hit-by-pitch.

Moreover, Soto is the only lefty reliever in the Tigers’ bullpen. Daniel Norris is technically in the bullpen for now, but he’s working as a piggyback starter.

Soto has faced 26 batters; 12 of them have come from the third through sixth spots in the opposing batting order. That’s not a coincidence; Gardenhire said he used Soto in the seventh inning of Saturday’s 11-5 win over the Pirates with a six-run lead because he wanted Soto to face the middle of Pittsburgh’s order. So if the more dangerous part of an opposing lineup is due up in the seventh inning, don’t be surprised if Soto pitches, then somebody else comes in to pitch the eighth.

Other potential options include José Cisnero, who has struck out seven batters over 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball, and rookie Bryan Garcia, the former University of Miami closer who was groomed for late-inning roles on his way up the Tigers’ farm system.

One non-option is a four-out save from Joe Jiménez. Gardenhire said he’ll keep his closer in the ninth inning.

Alexander: No different approach to starting

The last time Tyler Alexander pitched in a game, he tied an American League record and set a Major League reliever record with nine consecutive strikeouts. He said that day he wasn’t trying to strike guys out, at least until the end. So as he approaches his first start of the season Tuesday against the White Sox, he doesn’t plan on changing anything to pitch deeper into the game.

“I’m going to pitch no different than I did when I struck out nine guys,” Alexander said. “I wasn’t trying to strike them out until later on. I’m going to pitch how I’ve always pitched, and that’s to contact. I don’t know how I struck out nine in a row, but my goal has always been to get quick outs, early outs, efficient, go as deep as I can. I’m going to pitch to my strengths and that’s it.”

He won’t have to do too much scouting on how to get outs. Four of Alexander’s eight starts last season came against the White Sox, from his Major League debut in July to his final two starts at season’s end.

Gardenhire said there shouldn’t be much concern about pitch count.

“He’s up to 70 pitches, so whatever that takes you,” Gardenhire said. “He can probably go up to 80, however many innings that gets him through.”

Quick hits

• Center fielder JaCoby Jones, who left Sunday’s game with left abdominal tightness, returned to the lineup Monday. He’ll continue to receive treatment, Gardenhire said, but he’s fine to play and had been playing through the injury since their return to play last weekend.

• Major League Baseball announced on Monday that Thursday’s scheduled doubleheader against the Cardinals at Comerica Park has been postponed. The Cards' three-game series against the Pirates this week was previously postponed.