Toronto — Manager AJ Hinch said before the game Saturday that starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, who hasn’t pitched since May 18 and has been on the restricted list since June 13, could be back in the Tigers’ rotation by the third week of August.
“Best-case scenario,” Hinch said. “If it’s smooth sailing from this point.”
Rodriguez, whom the Tigers signed for five years and $77 million last offseason, has been working out at a facility near his home in Miami. He threw a 35-pitch bullpen on Friday. Hinch said the plan is for Rodriguez to report to the Tigers’ training facility in Lakeland on Sunday.
“He will throw a 40-pitch bullpen with up-and-downs on Monday,” Hinch said. “That should set him up for game action.”
The plan is for Rodriguez to make one start at Low-A Lakeland before transitioning to Triple-A Toledo.
“He will probably have to make one or two starts at Triple-A before he would come here,” Hinch said.
More: From roster bubble to leverage role, Tigers reliever Jason Foley in full ascent
If that timetable holds, Rodriguez could still make eight or nine starts before the end of the season. He was 1-3 with a 4.38 ERA before going on the injured list with a ribcage injury.
As he was ramping back up to rejoin the club, he left to deal with marital issues.
Around the horn
The Tigers, as expected, purchased the contract of veteran right-hander Derek Law on Saturday. He’d been the closer at Toledo all season. He took the last spot on the 40-man roster, though the Tigers will have to make another move on Monday when Andrew Chafin (restricted list) rejoins the team in Minnesota.
… Bryan Garcia, who made his first big-league start on Friday night, will rejoin the Mud Hens rotation. He will meet the team in Des Moines and pitch Thursday.
… Hinch said reliever Wily Peralta (hamstring) is scheduled to pitch back-to-back games for Toledo on Saturday and Sunday. He is expected to rejoin the club in Minnesota. Starting pitcher Beau Brieske (arm fatigue) will make a rehab start for Toledo on Sunday. Hinch said Brieske could rejoin the rotation at some point next week.
cmccosky@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @cmccosky
Tigers at Blue Jays
First pitch: 12:05 p.m. Sunday, Rogers Centre, Toronto
TV/radio: Peacock/97.1
SCOUTING REPORT
RHP Garrett Hill (1-2, 5.57), Tigers: His stuff has played well, when he’s thrown it in the strike zone. A 10-9 strikeout-to-walk rate won’t cut it. But opponents are hitting just .228 against him in his four big-league starts. He allowed three runs in five innings in each of his last two outings. His sinker (.182) and slider (.222) have been good weapons for him. His four-seamer, though, has been getting hit (.316).
RHP Jose Berrios (7-4, 5.20), Blue Jays: He’s gradually getting back to form. The Jays are 5-0 in his starts in July and he’s posted a 3.41 ERA during that span. But he still leads the American League in earned runs allowed (62) and home runs allowed (21). Opponents have an OPS of .808 against him, which is the worst since his rookie season.