CHICAGO — Lefty Blaine Hardy has arguably been the Detroit Tigers’ second-best starting pitcher this season. behind only Matthew Boyd. Give credit to the Tigers for contemplating the idea of keeping Hardy in the rotation until the All-Star break, on July 16, as part of a six-man starting rotation.
Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire quickly shot down the six-man notion last week when asked about it at Comerica Park. But on Sunday morning, he suggested Hardy might not return to the bullpen once lefty Francisco Liriano, who made a rehab start on Sunday with Triple-A Toledo, returns in about a week.