Manager Jim Leyland cautioned reporters to get to Wrigley early on Thursday, ahead of the getaway-day matinee against the Cubs, that there would be news to cover.

There was something to announce: The club placed rookie starter Drew Smyly on the 15-day disabled list with a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, and recalled Ryan Raburn from Triple-A Toledo.

Raburn was sent to Toledo on May 30, after posting an anemic .146 average in his first 37 games with the Tigers. He was hampered by a hamstring injury while at Toledo, though, and hit just .194 with one home run in eight games for the Mud Hens.

The Tigers mostly needed a right-handed hitter, and Raburn — for all his warts — was the best they had available at the moment. Leyland told reporters that he wouldn't be the everyday second baseman, though. (see below left)

Ryan Raburn will not be the everyday second baseman. Jim Leyland: "He's got to do something." #Tigers
— Chris Iott (@Chris_Iott) June 14, 2012

With the blister — which knocked him out of his last start early — sending Smyly to the disabled list, the Tigers will still need another starter soon. Rookie Casey Crosby is the scheduled starter Friday, and Max Scherzer will start on Sunday, but the Tigers will need to fill the Saturday slot.
[UPDATED: The Tigers announced later Thursday morning that Doug Fister would return from the DL to start Saturday's game.]

With reliever Octavio Dotel going on the disabled list on Tuesday, and now Smyly, that means the Tigers will have had 10 players with DL stints so far this season, four already in June. If they use anyone other than Doug Fister (also currently on the DL) to start on Saturday, it'll be the eighth different pitcher to start a game for the team. The Tigers have made 28 roster moves in the first 62 games of the season.