RHP Mike Pelfrey wasn't expected to last very long Thursday against Minnesota and he didn't. Pelfrey was going to be limited to about 60 pitches because he hadn't appeared in a big league game since July 31 but he departed after throwing just 36 when the Twins tagged him for four straight hits and four runs at the beginning of the second inning. Pelfrey had pitched a 1-2-3 first. "He hasn't pitched in a big league game in a while," manager Brad Ausmus said. "I'm sure there was some rust that had to be shaken off. He looked good in the first inning, second inning obviously not."

RHP Mike Pelfrey will start the four-game series finale against Minnesota on Thursday afternoon, manager Brad Ausmus announced Monday. He was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Sept. 5 after being sidelined since Aug. 3 with a lower back strain. He made two injury rehab starts but hasn't appeared in a major league game since July 31. Ausmus knows he'll go deep into his bullpen that day. "He's still going to be on a strict pitch count," he said.

RHP Mike Pelfrey was activated from the 15-day disabled list. He went on the disabled list Aug. 1 with a lower back strain. Pelfrey gave up five runs on nine hits with a strikeout in 3 1/3 innings in a rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Toledo at Columbus.

RHP Mike Pelfrey gave up five runs on nine hits with a strikeout in 3 1/3 innings in a rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Toledo at Columbus. He went on the disabled list Aug. 1 with a lower back strain.

RHP Mike Pelfrey will make his next rehab start for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday. He pitched three innings in his first rehab start with the Mud Hens on Monday. He gave up one run on three hits with no walks and two strikeouts while throwing 37 pitches. Pelfrey, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 3 with a lower back strain, could pitch long relief when he's activated. Manager Brad Ausmus said Pelfrey probably wouldn't require another rehab appearance after Saturday's start.

RHP Mike Pelfrey pitched three innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A Toledo on Monday. He gave up one run on three hits with no walks and two strikeouts while throwing 37 pitches. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 3 with a lower back strain. Pelfrey will have at least one more rehab start. He could work in long relief when he's ready to be activated despite starting regularly prior to the injury.

RHP Mike Pelfrey makes his first of two planned rehab starts Monday for Triple-A Toledo. He can't make three, like teammate RHP Jordan Zimmermann, only because the Mud Hens will end their schedule before that can happen. Manager Brad Ausmus dropped a hint about that when he noted whether Pelfrey was dropped down to make third rehab start for playoff-bound Class A West Michigan "would depend on how we want to use him." Translation: Pelfrey is likely to pitch out of the bullpen when he's activated in September.

RHP Mike Pelfrey, who said he has been pain-free for three days, will throw a side session on Friday. Pelfrey was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 3 due to a lower back strain. He has been playing catch since Friday. "It's just a matter of getting my arm back in shape," he said. Pelfrey, who is 4-9 with a 4.76 ERA, will make at least two rehab starts before he is activated, according to manager Brad Ausmus.

RHP Mike Pelfrey said he's without pain for three days and will throw a side session on Friday. Pelfrey was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 3 with a lower back strain. He'll make at least two rehab starts before he's activated, according to manager Brad Ausmus.

RHP Mike Pelfrey was placed on the 15-day disabled list after Tuesday's game with a lower back strain. He received promising news over the weekend after undergoing an MRI but his back locked up again on Tuesday. Pelfrey was taken out after five innings in his start on Sunday when his back tightened up. He has a 4-9 record and 4.76 ERA in 22 outings, including 21 starts. RHP Anibal Sanchez and LHP Matt Boyd will serve at the No. 4 and No. 5 starters with Pelfrey out.

RHP Mike Pelfrey came out after five shutout innings and 82 pitches on Sunday, but he came away with a victory. A sore back hastened Pelfrey's exit. "His back tightened up on him," manager Brad Ausmus said. "When he came in from the fifth, he mentioned to me his back had tightened up. We knew about it before the game, that his back had tightened up a little bit. He was able to get loose enough to start the game, and pitch five shutout innings. But he was done because of the back at that point." Pelfrey stranded five runners in his five innings, allowing four hits plus a walk and four strikeouts. He had an MRI on his back after the game, with the results not immediately known.

RHP Mike Pelfrey pitched five innings, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with a strikeout in a no-decision Tuesday at Boston. Pelfrey allowed a third-inning, three-run homer by DH David Ortiz, snapping his streak of 47 1/3 innings in which he hadn't allowed a home run on the road.

RHP Mike Pelfrey hopes to continue his recent trend of one-run outings Tuesday at Boston. Pelfrey (3-9, 4.78 ERA) has given up exactly one run in three of his last four starts, the outlier being a five-run defeat July 16 against Kansas City. Pelfrey is 1-1 with a 1.71 ERA in three career starts against Boston, with Michael Martinez (3-for-7, one homer, four RBIs) hitting him well and Hanley Ramirez (10-for-53, one homer, three RBIs, eight strikeouts) struggling.

RHP Mike Pelfrey allowed a run and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings Thursday against the White Sox to earn his first road victory of the season. He is 1-6 with a 3.36 ERA away in 10 starts from home.

RHP Mike Pelfrey will try to bounce back from a woeful outing in the first game of a four-game series with the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. Pelfrey was knocked out in the second inning against Kansas City on Saturday after giving up five runs on four hits with four walks. He has not fared well in the past against the White Sox, going 1-5 with a 5.81 ERA, but that victory came this season. Pelfrey could be in a danger of losing his starting job when RHP Jordan Zimmermann and LHP Daniel Norris come off the disabled list.

RHP Mike Pelfrey was awful in his first start after the All-Star break. His record dropped to 2-9 as he lasted just 1 2/3 innings against Kansas City, allowing five runs on four hits with four walks. He had given up just one run in each of his previous two outings. "I was pretty bad," Pelfrey said. "I was all over the place."

RHP Mike Pelfrey is scheduled to start the second game of the three-game weekend series against Kansas City. The team's No. 4 starter was 2-8 with a 4.58 ERA before the All-Star break but is coming off two strong outings. He held Tampa Bay to one run in 6 1/3 innings, then gave up one run at Toronto in six innings. But the Tigers only scored one run in those games and Pelfrey wound up with a no-decision and a loss. He's 1-3 with a 5.35 ERA in seven career starts against Kansas City, including a loss in April in which he gave up three earned runs in five innings and allowed 13 batters to reach base.

RHP Mike Pelfrey allowed six hits, three walks and one run in six innings Friday in the 6-0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. He is 0-6 on the road this season and 2-8 with an ERA of 4.58 overall. He has allowed one or no earned run in three of his past four starts. He has allowed just one earned run in his past two starts at Rogers Centre, a total of 12 innings, he induced three double play grounders Friday for a total of 21 on the season.

RHP Mike Pelfrey will make his 18th appearance and 17th start of the season Friday at Toronto. Pelfrey did not factor in the decision Sunday, a 5-1 Detroit win over Tampa Bay, when he allowed six hits, three walks and one run while striking out three in 6 1/3 innings. He tied for the major league lead in 2015 by inducing 29 ground-ball double plays. This season he has 18 double-play grounders, second in the American League. Pelfrey is 1-1 with a 4.96 ERA in three career starts against the Blue Jays. In his most recent start against Toronto, April 17, 2014, Pelfrey did not factor in the decision, giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings. His only start at Rogers Centre was July 6, 2013, when he pitched six shutout innings to earn the win.

RHP Mike Pelfrey took a no-decision Sunday but pitched effectively, holding the Rays to one run in 6 1/3 innings. He gave up six hits but was able to get out of jams. Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said it was one of his best outings of the season.