Tigers left-hander Blaine Hardy hasn't had his best spring.
In 10 games, Hardy had a 4.35 ERA and 1.55 WHIP.
But Tigers manager Brad Ausmus does not base roster decisions just on spring training performance.
Hardy's contributions last season, when he was 2-1 with a 2.54 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 38 games with the Tigers, did not go overlooked.
But in the end, Hardy and fellow lefty Kyle Ryan were optioned to Triple-A Toledo Friday morning.
"It was a tough decision," Hardy said. "I knew it was going to be. A lot of guys are talented, especially with a few guys coming in throwing upper 90s. It's tough to compete with that, especially if you're locating."
Both left-hander Ian Krol and right-hander Angel Nesbitt made the team and both of them can throw in the upper 90s.
Hardy knows the way things went last season that he could be called upon at any time.
It could be as early as next week if Justin Verlander is able to make his start Sunday, April 12, in Cleveland.
"I'm going to go down to Toledo and do my thing," Hardy said. "I'll be ready."
Hardy said there were a few things this spring that bothered him that he planned to work on in Toledo.
"Curveball wasn't spot on like I thought it was going to be, but I can't really expect that," Hardy said. "I don't want to blow out an off-season to throw curveball after curveball after curveball. It has been coming back the last couple outings. It's gotten sharper and shaper. That's one thing I'll make sure is ready to go. That was my pitch last year."
TIGERS MOVES
In addition to sending left-handers Blaine Hardy and Kyle Ryan to Triple-A Toledo, the Tigers assigned infielder Josh Wilson to minor league camp.
Because Ausmus said both Justin Verlander and Bruce Rondon will start the season on the disabled list, it means the Tigers will have 24 players on their 25-man roster.
Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski told reporters in Lakeland that the reason for that is the questionable nature of Verlander's status.
Verlander, out with a triceps strain he suffered one week ago today in Dunedin, Fla., against the Toronto Blue Jays, is penciled in to start Sunday, April 12 in Cleveland.
Verlander will attempt to throw off the mound either Saturday or Sunday. If that session goes well, he will face live hitters Tuesday.
If things go well Tuesday and the Tigers believe Verlander can make the start April 12, they'll place him on the DL retroactive 10 days and he can come off in time to make that start.
That would allow them to replace both Verlander and Rondon with additional relievers.
If Verlander is not deemed ready after Tuesday, then the Tigers will replace his spot with a starter, most likely left-hander Kyle Lobstein.
The moves Friday also mean that Andrew Romine and Hernan Perez, both out of options, have made the team as utility players.
COMPLETE TIGERS SPRING TRAINING 2015 COVERAGE
