DETROIT — The Tigers sent down Dontrelle Willis to Single-A Lakeland of the Florida State League on Tuesday in hopes the struggling left-hander can find his control.
On Monday, Willis matched a career high by giving eight earned runs on five walks and three hits in 1 1/3 innings against Cleveland.
Willis (0-1) has walked 21 batters in 11 1/3 innings.
Footnotes.
Padres pitcher Jake Peavy (elbow) will come off the disabled list and face the Dodgers on Thursday. The Padres also designated left-hander Wil Ledezma for assignment and recalled left-hander Joe Thatcher from Triple-A Portland (Ore.).
• Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols was helped off the field with a strained left calf he suffered in the seventh inning at Cincinnati.
• John Smoltz had the labrum in his right shoulder repaired, and the Braves said it will be months before the pitcher knows if his career can resume.
Also, Braves left-hander Tom Glavine had to leave Tuesday’s game against the Cubs because of a strained left elbow and is headed to the DL.
• The Reds put infielder-outfielder Jerry Hairston on the 15-day DL because of a broken thumb and also will be without reliever Gary Majewski for a few days while his wife has a baby.
• First baseman David Cooper became the first player picked in the first round of last week’s amateur draft to agree to a contract, getting a $1.5 million signing bonus from the Blue Jays.
• The Orioles designated right-hander Steve Trachsel for assignment.
The Associated Press
