Minneapolis – Tigers manager AJ Hinch admits it is tempting. And it’s been a topic of discussion.
But, no, there are no plans to transition right-hander Kyle Funkhouser into a starting role.
“We’re not going to stretch him out,” Hinch said Saturday before Funkhouser got the ball first in a bullpen game against the Twins. “We’re going to leave him in that one-to-three inning stint as of now.”
The Tigers rotation, though it’s held up remarkably well, has been without veterans Matthew Boyd (elbow) and Spencer Turnbull (forearm) for more than four weeks. Hinch said he doesn’t expect Boyd back until sometime in August and Turnbull, after having to shut down his throwing program a second time, could be out longer than that.