The Detroit Tigers have placed starting pitcher Doug Fister on the disabled list with a left side strain and will recall left-hander Casey Crosby to take his place on the roster.

Crosby is scheduled to start Friday night for the Tigers at Comerica Park against the New York Yankees. It will be his major league debut.

The stint on the disabled list is retroactive to Tuesday, the day after Fister made his last start.

Fister pitched just 3 2/3 innings in his first start of the season on April 7 before leaving that game with a left costochondral strain. His next start for the Tigers took place exactly a month later in a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Fister struggled in his latest outing, a 7-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox. He allowed six runs on 11 hits and one walk in just five innings pitched.

Fister has suffered from a lack of run support this season and is 0-3 with a 3.15 ERA in six starts.

Crosby seemed to be the longest shot of the six young pitchers who entered spring training competing for the final spot in the Tigers' rotation, which eventually was won by Drew Smyly. Crosby is 4-2 with a 4.26 ERA for Triple-A Toledo this season.

The Tigers were impressed with Crosby during spring training.

"His ceiling is, for me -- I'm not talking about (Justin) Verlander or those guys, I'm talking about a lot of the young guys -- I think this guy's ceiling is as high as anybody's,"

. "Will it come? I don't know, but he's got a real high ceiling."

Crosby underwent Tommy John surgery in 2007 and missed major portions of the 2008 and 2010 seasons due to injuries.

"This guy could be a really, really good major league pitcher," Leyland said. "He's a little crude yet, obviously, but he's got a lot of equipment. ... He should have a big future."

Rick Porcello had been scheduled to pitch Friday night with Fister set for Saturday. The Tigers instead will go with Crosby on Friday and Porcello on Saturday. Justin Verlander remains scheduled to pitch Sunday afternoon.