CLEVELAND — Detroit Tigers left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez will be removed from the restricted list Friday anstart Sunday — his first MLB start since May 18 — against the Los Angeles Angels in a matchup with right-handed sensation Shohei Ohtani at Comerica Park.
Rodriguez, 29, has been on the restricted list since June 13 because of a marital issue. He did not communicate with the organization for one month but connected with manager A.J. Hinch before the All-Star break.
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In 2022, Rodriguez — the Tigers’ Opening Day starter — has a 4.38 ERA with 17 walks and 34 strikeouts over 39 innings in eight starts. He also pitched three innings for Low-A Lakeland and 15 innings for Triple-A Toledo.
He started Tuesday for the Mud Hens, tossing six innings of one-run ball on five hits and one walk with 11 strikeouts. He threw 53 of 72 pitches for strikes, including an immaculate inning — nine pitches, nine strikes and three strikeouts — in the fifth inning.
Rodriguez forfeited $74,866 in salary for each day he spent on the restricted list (prorated from his $14 million salary this season). His activation Friday will leave him with 67 days on the restricted list, meaning he willfully relinquished approximately $5 million this season.
He signed a five-year, $77 million contract with the Tigers in November 2021, with an opt-out clause after next season.
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