Tigers Pitcher Turnbull Returns To Team After Bout With COVID-19

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull (pictured) will make his first start of the season when he starts the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates when the two teams play at Comerica Park.

Turnbull has been on the team's COVID-19 list since spring training.  He's been the only player on the Tigers that's been on the list this season.  Detroit is 6-10 on the season entering Wednesday's games.

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Spencer told the media recently, regarding his COVID-19 positive test:

“(At first) I was frustrated and kind of disheartened a little bit,” he said. “But honestly, after a couple of days I just accepted and moved on.  I just had to get my strength back and work my way back to where I’m feeling sharp and good enough to pitch in the big leagues. It’s a little bit different than having to go to the office and work versus, you know, playing professional sports.”

He joins a starting pitching rotation that's been sketchy so far.  Only number 1 starter Matthew Boyd has pitched with any sort of consistency.  Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, and Jose Urena have been wildly inconsistent so far.  And Julio Teheran is on the 60-day injured list with an arm injury.

You can hear Wednesday's doubleheader, and almost all Detroit Tigers games, on Lansing's Big Talker 1240 WJIM.  This coming Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals will be on The Game 730 AM WVFN, starting at 12:50pm because of the Michigan State spring football game airing on WJIM-AM.