Tigers send down Lobstein, Wilson, Zeid, Cabrera

Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus admitted it was tough optioning lefty Kyle Lobstein to Triple-A Toledo.

Lobstein – along with righties Josh Zeid and Alex Wilson – got the news this morning that they're headed to Triple-A. The announcement also said right-hander Alberto Cabrera was headed to minor-league camp.

But the big name is Lobstein, who came through the Tigers during last season's stretch run when Anibal Sanchez went down with an injury.

"Without Kyle Lobstein, we don't win the division last year," Ausmus said. "He filled in tremendously when Anibal (Sanchez) was hurt. He had one mediocre outing and all the other outings were very good.

"With that being said, I think he saw the writing on the wall. We have starters and I told him that as unfair as it is, he needs to continue to pitch well. As he learned last year at any moment, you can be thrown into a pennant race."

Wilson struggled this spring. He was acquired in the trade that brought outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to Detroit and sent Rick Porcello to Boston.



Contact Vince Ellis: vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.