Michael Fulmer brilliant in first rehab start, but Tigers will take it slow

A peek at the linescore said plenty about Michael Fulmer’s rehab start Tuesday night at Single-A Lakeland.

He was Fulmer-esque: two innings, no hits, four strikeouts, no walks. He threw 18 pitches.

And he’s ready for more. Immediately.

"You know him,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said Wednesday, shaking his head, and half-grinning at the Tigers right-hander’s spirit.

Fulmer has been on the disabled list since July 20 with an oblique strain. He’ll make an undetermined number of rehab starts before rejoining the Tigers.

Gardenhire acknowledged that Tuesday night’s work suggested the timetable, if Fulmer has any say about it, will be the fastest possible.

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“They said he was really throwing well — upper 90s,” Gardenhire said as he and the Tigers got ready for a 1:10 p.m. game against the White Sox at Comerica Park.

“No issues.”

He spoke again of Fulmer’s full-throttle ways, imagining him saying, “I’m good to go.”

The Tigers have other thoughts.

“We’re going to stay with the process,” Gardenhire said, guessing that Fulmer’s next rehab start will last 30-50 pitches.

“We don’t want to bring him up to throw 40 pitches,” the manager said, reminding media that the Tigers bullpen can’t handle starters working a handful of innings.

Fulmer has had a mixed year after having nerve transposition on his right elbow last September.

He has a 4.50 ERA in 19 starts, compared with ERAs the past two years of 3.83 and 3.06.

lynn.henning@detroitnews.com

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