Anthony Fenech

Detroit Free Press

MINNEAPOLIS -- Right-hander Buck Farmer will start Wednesday in Minnesota.

“He pitched well to end the season for Lloyd McClendon down there in Toledo,” Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Tuesday. “He pitched well the other day against the Twins in long relief and we just feel like he’s going to give us a shot to win the game.”

Farmer threw 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief against the Twins on Sept. 13.

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“Just looking at it as another opportunity,” Farmer said. “Yeah, the game means a lot, but it’s another game.”

Ausmus said the team chose Farmer over righties Anibal Sanchez and Mike Pelfrey because: “He’s pitched better. Pretty simple.”

It will be Farmer’s first big league start this season.

He was yanked around from Triple-A Toledo to the Tigers on many occasions earlier this season. With the Mud Hens, he started. With the Tigers, he pitched in relief.

“I would say more of a growing year,” Farmer said. “Just a learning year, that stuff like this does happen, going up and down.”

With Toledo, Farmer posted a 3.96 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 20 starts. He struck out 93 batters in 100 innings. In 13 appearances with the Tigers, he has allowed 11 runs on 21 hits in 24 1/3 innings (4.07 ERA). He profiles as a long reliever in the majors.

Having thrown 77 pitches in his last outing, there is no pitch limit on Farmer, Ausmus said, but he doesn’t expect Farmer to exceed 100 pitches.

Both Sanchez and Pelfrey will be available out of the bullpen, Ausmus said.

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Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.

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