When the Detroit Tigers activate reliever Joel Zumaya from the disabled list later this week, they will have to make roster room and will be facing a tough decision.
Right-hander Freddy Dolsi could be a top candidate to go back down to the minors, possibly rejoining the SeaWolves.
Dolsi was promoted to the Tigers on May 4 and has held his own in the majors, going 0-2 with a 3.06 ERA in 14 relief outings spanning 17 2/3 innings. His ERA was 2.20 before he allowed two runs on Monday in Detroit’s 8-6 loss at San Francisco.
If Dolsi is the odd man out, sending him to Triple-A Toledo wouldn’t seem to be a logical choice because the Mud Hens have one of the International League’s top closers in right-hander Blaine Neal, who is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 18 saves in 24 appearances.
If Dolsi returns to Erie, he would immediately shore up a bullpen that has been inconsistent all season. The SeaWolves have lacked a true closer since the club lost Dolsi and closer Brett Jensen within a four-day span in early May.
Dolsi began the season with high Single-A Lakeland and was promoted to the SeaWolves on April 24. He made three relief appearances with the SeaWolves and threw three scoreless innings with two saves.