Tigers' Fister headed to DL after suffering injury in debut

Doug Fister went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA last year after coming over from Seattle.

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DETROIT (AP) -- Detroit right-hander Doug Fister is heading to the disabled list after he left his first start of the season Saturday with a left side injury.

The Tigers announced after their 10-0 win over Boston that Fister will go on the 15-day DL Sunday, and the team will recall RHP Brayan Villarreal from Triple-A Toledo prior to the game.

The Tigers led 2-0 in the fourth inning Saturday when manager Jim Leyland and trainer Kevin Rand came out to the mound to check on Fister in the middle of an at-bat by Ryan Sweeney. Fister left with a left costochondral strain.

Duane Below came on in relief.

Fister allowed three hits in 3 2-3 innings. He walked one and struck out three.

Fister went 8-1 down the stretch after being traded to the Tigers from Seattle in a deadline deal last season. He dealt with a sore right middle finger during spring training.

It's not clear who might take Fister's place in the rotation. Drew Smyly won a spring training competition to be the fifth starter, beating out Below and a few other pitchers.

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