The Tigers made two moves Wednesday that didn't affect their 25-man roster one bit -- but affected the Mud Hens roster significantly.
Detroit recalled RHP Al Alburquerque from his rehab assignment from the Mud Hens, activated him from the disabled list -- then sent him to Toledo.
To activate Alburquerque from the 60-day disabled list, the Tigers needed to make room on their 40-man roster. Detroit did that by designating RHP Thad Weber for assignment.
Weber was claimed by the San Diego Padres.
That's the news; now a little bit about both pitchers.
Alburquerque began this season on the disabled list after having surgery on his right elbow in December.
He began a rehab assignment with Hi-A Lakeland on July 24 and had a 5.40 ERA in four appearances. While with the Flying Tigers, Alburquerque struck out nine and walked one in 3.1 innings.
Alburquerque joined the Mud Hens on Aug. 4 and has pitched in five games for Toledo, posting a 1-0 record and 2.70 ERA. The right-hander has fanned 10 and walked three in 6.2 innings.
Why was the move made? Since his 30-day rehab assignment began on July 24, the Tigers had two choices: keep him on the disabled list until Sept. 1, when rosters expand, or allow him to keep pitching by taking him off the disabled list and sending him to Toledo.
Last season Alburquerque pitched in four games with Toledo and had a 1.93 ERA thanks to 10 strikeouts and two walks in 4.2 innings. He was promoted to Detroit on April 14 and was 6-1 with a 1.87 ERA. Alburquerque, who turned 26 on June 10, struck out 67 and walked 29 in 43.1 innings and led all American League relievers with a .142 opponent's batting average.
Weber was in his second season as a member of the Mud Hens rotation, and this year he was much more effective than in 2011, when he finished with a 5-11 record and 5.65 ERA in 27 starts.
This year Weber was 7-11 with a 4.20 ERA -- more than a run lower than last season -- and had 97 strikeouts in 128.2 innings (that's 6.78 strikeouts per nine innings, compared to 6.60 last season). This season he walked 31 (2.17 per nine innings, compared to 2.91 a year ago).
Weber also was called up to Detroit briefly in April and made two appearances, finishing 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA.
Weber, who will turn 28 in September, posted a "quality start" by allowing three earned runs or fewer while covering at least six innings in eight of his last nine starts.
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