Al Alburquerque has pitched well for the Tigers this season, posting a 3.14 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 14.1 innings, but his control has been an issue with 13 walks and after three straight outings allowing a run they’ve sent the right-hander back to Triple-A.
Spotty control is nothing new for Alburquerque, but his amazing bat-missing ability has always been enough to make up for it. He has a 1.90 ERA and 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 64 career appearances, so the demotion is certainly an eyebrow raiser.
No doubt manager Jim Leyland and company just got sick of watching him walk nine batters in his last six appearances, but Alburquerque against Triple-A hitters will just be unfair.