Things were going so smoothly for Joe Nathan until Wednesday.
Nathan, on the disabled list since April 7 with a right elbow flexor strain, was in Toledo on Wednesday morning for a rehabilitation assignment. He was supposed to throw one inning but had to remove himself from the game after 10 pitches.
"He felt a pop on a fastball and had actually been throwing well," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "The bullpen went well before he went into the game.
"The first two hitters went well, then he felt it, thought maybe it was scar tissue, tried to throw another pitch (practice), but it didn't go so well. So we're going to get him checked out."
Nathan got two outs on his first nine pitches. He grimaced on his last pitch and called for the trainer to come out. After trying to throw a practice pitch, he then left the game.
"I've never broken my arm in my life, but I assume this is what it feels like," Nathan told the Toledo Blade's John Wagner. "Until we find out what this is, I don't want to speculate, but obviously it was enough for me to take myself out of the game."
Joakim Soria has been the Tigers' closer in Nathan's absence, and is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA and four saves.
"It's always sad," Soria said. "I've had two Tommy John surgeries, so I know exactly how he feels. Believe me, I wish it's just a minor setback and he can come back as soon as he can."
Soria said he feels much more comfortable this season and is happy to hear the fans are pleased with how he's done.
"Like I say, we try to enjoy every time if we're out there," Soria said. "I'm just glad that the fans like it right now, and it's working for the team. Hopefully, it stays the same way through the whole season."
