Detroit left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez departed the Tigers' Monday game against the host Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning due to an apparent back injury.
Rodriguez had just thrown a strike to Chris Taylor when he began to stretch his back behind the mound. He was visited by manager A.J. Hinch as well as the team's medical staff before throwing one warm-up pitch to the backstop and then departing the mound.
Rodriguez, who entered the night 11-8 with a 3.32 ERA, was facing the Dodgers six weeks after he declined to join them near the trade deadline. Los Angeles and Detroit worked out a deal, but Rodriguez used his no-trade rights to decline a move to the West Coast.
On Monday, Rodriguez faced off with a pitcher the Dodgers did acquire at the deadline, right-hander Lance Lynn instead, and the two pitchers were opposing each other Monday. Lynn, acquired from the Chicago White Sox, was 5-2 with a 4.60 ERA in eight starts for Los Angeles entering play Monday.
J.D. Martinez hit home runs off Rodriguez in the second and third innings to give the Dodgers an early 5-0 lead. Taylor continued his at-bat against right-hander Trey Wingenter and struck out.
More must-reads: