Candelario won't need surgery, but lands on DL
Tigers injury updates: Cabrera, Martin, Zimmermann
DETROIT -- As expected, Jeimer Candelario will not need surgery on his balky left wrist. But he will need a stint on the disabled list to rehab. Thus, the bright young third baseman became the fifth Tiger to go on the DL in the last week and a half, and the sixth overall.
The Tigers are classifying Candelario's injury as left wrist tendinitis. A precautionary MRI exam showed the root of the wrist pain -- which has flared up on him off and on this season -- is located in what is called the Triangle Fibrocartilage Complex deep in the wrist.
"They feel like they can treat that now that they know exactly where it is," manager Ron Gardenhire said.
The Tigers hoped Candelario's injury would be a matter of a few days, but the tendinitis has proven a little more tenacious than expected, and it will likely require more time to rehab. Even if Candelario didn't necessarily need 10 days, the Tigers' various other injuries -- Nicholas Castellanos is day to day with a swollen left pinky finger sustained on a hit-by-pitch Saturday -- make it tougher to go further short-handed.
"He wasn't happy about going on the DL. I didn't think he would be," Gardenhire said. "But we're not only protecting him, we're protecting the rest of our club."
Candelario joins Jose Cabrera (right hamstring strain) and Leonys Martin (left hamstring strain) as Detroit regulars on the DL, with Castellanos day to day. Thus, the top four hitters in Detroit's usual lineup are currently out. Monday's lineup featured Michael Mahtook, Pete Kozma, Victor Martinez and James McCann in the respective batting order spots.
"We're just trying to get them all healthy," Gardenhire said. "This is when guys have to step up. We're not feeling sorry for ourselves. Everybody has these things."
With Candelario shelved, the Tigers called up infielder Dawel Lugo from Triple-A Toledo for his first Major League stint. The 23-year-old, part of the return package from Arizona in last summer's J.D. Martinez trade, was batting .284 (40-for-141) with a home run, 12 RBIs and a .656 OPS. Gardenhire said the Tigers will mix and match at third base while Candelario is out. MLB Pipeline ranks Lugo as Detroit's No. 12 prospect.
Tigers injury updates
• Though Cabrera was eligible to be activated from the DL on Monday, he's still a ways off. Gardenhire said they hope to get him working out on the field in the next day or two after he experienced back stiffness from treadmill runs and other rehab work. "Cabrera's doing everything they're asking back there," Gardenhire said. "He's getting through it. He's had some stiffness from all the treadmills."
• Martin was scheduled to rejoin Detroit on Monday after rehabbing at home in Miami to be with his father, who is dealing with a medical issue. The Tigers hope to have him back when he's eligible to come off the 10-day DL on Friday at Seattle.
• Jordan Zimmermann, who's also on the 10-day DL after sustaining a shoulder impingement a week ago, will try to throw a bullpen session later this week. He played catch on Monday. Gardenhire indicated the Tigers have him slotted into their rotation down the road, though he isn't expected to be ready in time to fill his spot in the rotation Friday in Seattle.