If Michael Pineda could pitch in games without his slider, he might jump at the opportunity. That's not happening, but Pineda is eager to return to the starting rotation and needs his slider to do so.
The Detroit Tigers placed the 33-year-old right-hander on the injured list May 15 with a right middle finger fracture. The day before, he suffered the injury on a hard-hit comebacker against the Baltimore Orioles.
Pineda threw a bullpen Friday at Comerica Park. His fastball and changeup are ready to go, but not his slider. He tossed a few sliders at short distance at the end of Friday's session.