Blaine Hardy.jpg

Left-handed reliever Blaine Hardy will join the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

(AP File Photo)

Left-hander Blaine Hardy is set to join the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. But who's place will he take? That remains to be seen.

Hardy was obviously excited to hear the news.

"It's starting to sink in, but it's going to sink in more when I get up there," Hardy told John Wagner of the Toledo Blade, who was the first to report the news. "It's a thrill. Hopefully, I'll keep doing what I'm doing and impress them up there."

Blaine Hardy

Hardy is 3-2 with a 2.68 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP in 20 games for Triple-A Toledo this season. He has 53 strikeouts and 13 walks in 47 innings pitched. Left-handers have hit .215 with 18 strikeouts and two walks against Hardy, who has held right-handers to a .205 average.

There are a few main candidates to be moved to make room for Hardy.

Corey Knebel seems to be the most likely candidate, although he is the only relief pitcher for the Tigers who would be well rested heading into their game Sunday against the Minnesota Twins. Knebel, a top Tigers prospect, could be sent down simply to get regular work. He has a 6.75 ERA in six games for the Tigers.

Another option could be Evan Reed, although he is out of options and would have to clear waivers to be sent to the minors.

Many will speculate that Hardy will replace fellow left-hander Phil Coke with the Tigers, but that seems very unlikely. Coke survived a rough start to the season and had pitched well of late prior to allowing three runs Saturday night in a 12-9 win over the Twins.

Left-hander Ian Krol said after the game Saturday that he had some soreness in his left shoulder.

"All in all, I gave it my best, pitched through everything I was going through," Krol said. "It just felt like I had nothing on the ball."

But Krol seemed unconcerned about the shoulder issue after the game, and it seems likely that the Tigers would need more time to assess his status if they were considering a stint on the disabled list for him.

The Tigers currently have an opening on the 40-man roster, so they won't have to make a corresponding move to make room for Hardy there. Hardy, 27, has pitched in the minor leagues for seven seasons but has never pitched in the majors.

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