By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

CBS DETROIT - Shane Greene lasted only three innings in his start Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs, allowing five earned runs on seven hits before Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus pulled him from the game. It was the third straight start in which Greene has lasted 4 1/3 innings or fewer.

Thanks in part to those recent struggles - including the May 30 outing in which he gave up seven runs in 1 2/3 innings - Greene's ERA has swelled to 5.82, which is 55th among American League pitchers.

This is only Greene's second season in the major leagues, and some have suggested he would benefit from a stint in the minors.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus declined to validate that option as a possibility Wednesday, but he acknowledged that Greene is in a funk.

"I wouldn't talk about any decisions if there were decisions to be made," Ausmus said. "He's struggling. That's the best way to put it. He's struggling to make pitches, he's struggling a little bit with the left-handed batters, they're taking advantage of pitches up in the zone. He tried to mix it up, he used his changeup a few times. He's just not where he was when the season started."

When the season started, Greene looked fantastic. In his first appearance, he turned in eight scoreless innings. He matched that performance in his second outing. In his third start, Greene allowed just one run in seven innings.

After that impressive beginning, Greene went through a rough stretch. In his three starts between April 24 and May 5, he gave up 20 earned runs over 11 innings.

In the three starts that followed, Greene appeared to have gotten back on track. In those games, Greene allowed only three earned runs over 19 1/3 innings.

"Pitches are like hitters; they can go through ups and downs," Ausmus said. "They're usually not as dramatic. So it's not unheard of for guys to pitch well and then struggle or vice versa. Three outings does not make a season. Thirty-two outings does. I wouldn't rush to judgment on anything."

After Greene's start on June 4, the one before his outing Wednesday, Ausmus alluded to a mechanical adjustment he thought would help Greene. Greene referenced it Wednesday.

"The most frustrating part about tonight was I felt really good," Greene said. "I felt like my arm angle was a little bit better, and everything felt really good. I just didn't get the results that I wanted.

"This game that we play is crazy," Greene continued. "It'll rip your heart out and stomp on it if you let it, so I've just got to show up every day and work my butt off to get back out there in five days."