Marte headed to DL with strained hamstring

Marte headed to DL with strained hamstring
By Jason Beck / MLB.com | 04/03/12 5:03 PM ET

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Ask a Major League manager for his biggest nightmare as Spring Training wraps up, and an injury in the final days is usually near the top of the list. Tigers manager Jim Leyland experienced it when he saw Luis Marte grab at the back of his left leg on the mound against the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Marte left the Grapefruit League finale with a strained left hamstring and will have to open the season on the 15-day disabled list. The Tigers announced after the game that they will recall left-hander Duane Below from Triple-A Toledo to fill the spot that Marte won from Below just two days ago.

Marte had just entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when he promptly had to leave. He immediately grabbed at the back of his left leg and limped around the mound as head athletic trainer Kevin Rand and Leyland emerged from the dugout.

Rand helped him off the field and into the clubhouse.

Marte beat out right-hander Brayan Villarreal and Below for the relief spot. Villarreal, in particular, had a very good spring, but Leyland said that Marte's ability to throw strikes and his versatility to pitch in many different situations played a big part in the decision.

Below spent all spring competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, finishing as the runner-up to rookie Drew Smyly for the job. He had also been in consideration for the relief spot, Leyland said Sunday. An uncharacteristically wild four-walk inning spoiled Below's last outing last Friday against the Orioles.

Villarreal and Below were both optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Sunday. By rule, the Tigers can recall either of them immediately to fill an injury void.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.