Zimmermann Eager For Thursday Return, After Falling Into 'Bad Habits'

By Will Burchfield
Twitter:burchie_kid
Heading into the trade deadline, Tigers' G.M. Al Avila was confident in standing pat knowing two of the team's stars were close to returning.

J.D. Martinez certainly made Avila look smart last night.

Jordan Zimmermann will get his shot today.

Making his first start for the Tigers since June 30, Zimmermann will look to regain the form he showed in the early parts of the season. And with the team surging and a playoff race heating up, he is eager to rejoin the fray.

"These guys are playing great, and with J.D. down and myself, guys stepped up nicely and really have been playing well," he said. "Obviously we have a nice streak going so hopefully that continues [today] and I can do my part tomorrow and keep it going. I'm just excited to be back."

Zimmermann was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to July 1, with a right neck strain. He called the time away from the game "miserable," frustrated by his inability to aid the Tigers' cause.

"Sitting on the bench and watching these guys win ballgames and have fun, I had no part of it really. Obviously I was a cheerleader for a month, but it's going to be a lot better when I'm out there and able to compete a little bit," he said.

After a scalding start to the year, the 30-year-old righty seemed to hit a wall toward the end of May. In his final eight starts before landing on the D.L., he saw his ERA rise from 1.50 to 3.95. Zimmermann wasn't willing to blame that downturn on a lingering groin injury, but admitted that he had developed some bad habits on the mound.

The time off gave him a chance to smooth things out.

"I had a few mechanical issues that we worked out, and now it's just getting myself out of the bad habits and sticking to the new mechanics, the way I've been the last six, seven years," Zimmermann explained. "I just fell into some bad habits for a couple months there – I don't know if it was from the groin or not – but I feel like we're getting better every day. It's going to be exciting to get out there."

Over two rehab starts with Triple-A Toledo, Zimmermann gave up ten hits and one earned run over eight innings. He has since thrown two rehab sessions, and though the improvement has been incremental, he can feel himself rounding back into form.

"I feel like I am slowly getting better and I feel like I'm good enough to pitch up here. I'll be ready to go," he said.

Last night it was Martinez. Today it will be Zimmermann.

If the pitcher can return in the same manner as the slugger, the fans will be in for a special afternoon at Comerica Park.

Either way, the Tigers have to be thrilled two of their most important players are back in the fold.