Tigers bounce K-Rod from closer role

The Detroit Tigers' Francisco Rodriguez won't be appearing in save situations for the foreseeable future, as the club is relieving "K-Rod" of his closing duties, manager Brad Ausmus said Tuesday, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery.

Justin Wilson will take over the closer role for the club, Ausmus added.

Rodriguez's removal from the ninth-inning job stems from his four blown saves in 11 opportunities already this season. Over the past weekend, the 35-year-old blew two consecutive save opportunities against the Oakland Athletics, while seeing his ERA balloon to a 8.49 mark.

"(Rodriguez) couldn't have been more professional," Ausmus said, according to Woodbery. "He's very accountable. He understands that he hasn't pitched the way he is accustomed to.

"He wants to obviously get back and be a closer, but he understands why (the change) is being done and he just wants to become the Frankie Rodriguez that he was."

Wilson, meanwhile, has been steady in his second season with the Tigers. The southpaw has allowed just two earned runs in 13 2/3 innings pitched in 2017 and made good on his one save opportunity this season, a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on April 8.