The roster moves: Left-handed reliever Enmanuel De Jesus has been optioned to Triple-A Toledo, while right-handed reliever Burch Smith has been called up.
Smith, 36, owns a 5.79 ERA across 247⅓ innings in his 152-game MLB career, spanning six seasons with seven teams. The Tigers need to make a 40-man roster move before their game on Wednesday, April 22, thus opening a spot for Smith.
The Tigers made the switch before the second of three games in their series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Comerica Park.
LAST GAME: Tigers embarrassed by Brewers in 12-4 loss; Jake Rogers throws 1st strikeout
In Tuesday's 12-4 loss, De Jesus imploded in the seventh and eighth innings. The 29-year-old allowed seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks with one strikeout over 1⅓ innings, throwing 49 pitches.
This season, De Jesus registered a 10.13 ERA across eight innings in six games.
Meanwhile, Smith has been dominating at the Triple-A level. He posted a 1.80 ERA with zero walks and 16 strikeouts across 10 innings in eight games for the Mud Hens.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers option Enmanuel De Jesus, recall Burch Smith