BOSTON – The question came from the stands, lingering over Jordan Zimmermann’s early exit on Thursday night.

“Hurt or just bad?” a rival talent evaluator in attendance at Fenway Park asked.

With the Detroit Tigers’ bullpen taxed after four games in three days, Zimmermann’s short start was curious.

Sure, the Boston Red Sox (11-15) were hitting him around and yes, his pitch count had climbed to 77, but the team could have used a couple more innings, if only in the name of wearing it – which their most veteran pitcher has done in the past.

Though the Tigers (12-12) made no announcement during the 7-3 loss, manager Ron Gardenhire answered the question afterwards: Zimmermann left the game with right elbow discomfort and will undergo further testing on Friday in Chicago.

“He was pitching with it, so it’s not good,” Gardenhire said. “It’s not a good scenario, but it happens. Now, we just gotta keep figuring out ways to get through it.”

[ Tigers promote Casey Mize Double-A: 'He needs to be challenged' ]

Gardenhire did not know how much pain Zimmermann was pitching through.

“I didn’t even talk to him,” he said. “I walked by him and (pitching coach Rick Anderson) told me, ‘(Zimmermann’s) done. His elbow’s barking.’ So, that was it.”

Zimmermann allowed five runs on five hits in three innings. His pitches – especially the slider – lacked bite, and he too frequently threw pitches over the middle of the plate, which the powerful Red Sox lineup punished.

Asked if Zimmermann had dealt with this issue at all recently, Gardenhire said, “No, absolutely not. Nope. Just got him today.”

Zimmermann was not available for comment postgame.

After a strong spring training and two solid starts to open the regular season, Zimmermann struggled in three starts heading into Thursday.

He is now 0-4 with a 5.93 ERA and 1.35 WHIP this season in six starts.

While too early to speculate on the extent of the injury, the nature of Zimmermann’s diagnosis – discomfort in his pitching elbow – is not promising. He has dealt with a myriad of injuries in years past, but none involved his elbow.

More:Tigers' Josh Harrison changed his stance to snap his slump. Here's how

Zimmermann underwent elbow ligament reconstruction surgery in 2009.

There are many variables that factor into how long a pitcher can throw healthy afterwards and though plenty of pitchers have underwent multiple of such surgeries, there is limited evidence that points to a first surgery putting a pitcher at increased risk of another.

Zimmermann, 31, signed a five-year, $110 million contract with the Tigers prior to the 2016 season. With the signing, he became the first pitcher in Major League history to sign a six-figure contract after undergoing elbow ligament reconstruction surgery.

Losing Zimmermann for an extended period of time would be another big blow to the Tigers’ rotation, which has already lost two pitchers – Michael Fulmer to elbow ligament reconstruction surgery and Matt Moore to left meniscus surgery – for the season.

More: Fulmer has a long road to recovery. Here's when the Tigers think he could return

Contact Anthony Fenech at afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.