DETROIT -- In the end, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus felt he had no choice but to put ailing designated hitter Victor Martinez on the DL.
Martinez, a switch-hitter, is batting just .216 with a .308 on-base percentage and .270 slugging percentage but is so limited batting from the left side (.141/.242/.153) that something had to be done.
That something was announced Tuesday, when the Tigers put Martinez, who underwent knee surgery in early February, on the 15-day disabled list with left knee inflammation and recalled outfielder Tyler Collins from Triple-A Toledo.
Ausmus said Martinez had a cortisone shot in his left knee before they left for St. Louis last Thursday and they hoped it would help.
"At this point, we just felt like the other steps hadn't worked and it was time to put him on the DL," Ausmus said. "I think it was more about the at-bats. We're just not seeing the same Victor Martinez. We're seeing a shell of the hitter he was from the left side."
Ausmus admitted that Martinez was not thrilled with the decision.
The two had a lengthy conversation after Monday night's game.
"He was upset," Ausmus said. "He wasn't upset in an angry way; he was upset because he didn't want to go on the DL. He's got a warrior mentality, and he fully wanted to show he teammates that he could play through pain."
Martinez's teammates have watched him struggle this season, knowing that he's far from 100 percent.
"It sucks, yeah, but if it's necessary, the most important thing is to have him in the lineup and we want him in the lineup," Nick Castellanos said. "So if going on the DL and getting him rest and getting him ready so when he's back in the lineup, he's like normal Victor Martinez, then I'm all for it."
Ausmus said Martinez would not travel with the team on next week's road trip and might be able to return home to Orlando while they're gone.
"It's possible we could do some of the rehab while we're on the road, closer to his home," Ausmus said. "He has the guy that he worked with in the offseason, as well."
Martinez could easily make the short drive from Orlando to Lakeland and get his work done there also.
"We told him not to pick up a bat for about a week," Ausmus said. "He's going to be treated, there's exercises to hopefully strengthen the area. It's not the surgically repaired part of the knee that's the issue. It's the weakness created by the surgery that's created issues in another part of the knee."
As for Collins, he made the Tigers out of spring last season but did not play much and eventually returned to Toledo so he could continue his development.
"He can play all three outfield positions, probably a little more depth in the corners," Ausmus said. "We needed a left-handed bat with Alex down as well as Victor. He can DH, has played part-time at this level before last year. He's got a little experience there. He understands he's going to sit for a few days, and then play for a few days. That's why we chose Tyler."
Martinez was struggling from the left-side and catcher Alex Avila is on the DL with a left knee injury of his own, leaving Anthony Gose and switch-hitter Andrew Romine as the only lefty options.
Collins, 24, is batting .248 with a .338 on-base percentage and .301 slugging percentage but has been much more successful against right-handers, hitting .316/.430/.395.
"I'm not coming to fill in for Victor Martinez," Collins said. "I'm just coming to play Tyler Collins' game and try and help the team win. You hate for Victor to go down but I think this is going to give him a chance to get healthy and get back to his old ways."
Castellanos knows Collins well from their days together in the minor leagues.
"He's a great guy," Castellanos said. "A knucklehead but a good guy. He's a great player, he can run the bases great, he can play great outfield, he's a tough out from the left-handed batter's box so he's a good addition."
Daniel Fields is another left-handed hitter who is hitting well (.293/.414/.528) but he had an injury-plagued 2014 season and has no major-league time yet.
Ausmus said Fields was in the discussion but ultimately they went with the more experienced Collins.
Jeff McVaney was promoted from Double-A Erie to replace Collins.
