Brieske (ankle) placed on 15-day IL; Updates on Meadows, Foley

DETROIT -- The Tigers lost one of their most versatile bullpen members Friday when right-hander Beau Brieske -- one of the keys to Detroit’s pitching chaos strategy last postseason -- went on the 15-day injured list with right ankle inflammation.

The move addresses a long-running ankle issue for Brieske, who aggravated the injury while trying to field a comebacker on April 11 at Minnesota. The Tigers gave him some rest before bringing him back for Thursday’s win over the Royals, but the issue flared up again.

“He’s pitched through it, he’s been fine, and then he was pretty sore after the Minnesota stumble off the mound,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We gave him four or five days off and he came in [Thursday] after the game and was pretty beat up about it. We got him tested [Friday], and the docs told us we needed to shut him down for a little bit. Hopefully it’ll be quick, but you never know.”

The 27-year-old Brieske, who was a workhorse in the Tigers’ bullpen for much of last season after returning from a nerve issue in his right elbow two years ago, has struggled to follow up that success this season. Thursday marked his fourth outing with an earned run allowed over his last six appearances. He has given up nine runs (seven earned) on 10 hits over 7 1/3 innings with three walks and four strikeouts.

Brieske has leaned more heavily on his fastball and changeup so far. The changeup has gotten a heavy amount of ground balls, but also some hard-luck hits, as has his four-seamer.

With Brieske sidelined, the Tigers recalled right-hander Brenan Hanifee, who had been optioned to Triple-A Toledo after Tuesday’s appearance. He was scheduled to join the Mud Hens on Friday on the road in Indianapolis, but the Tigers recalled him before his scheduled flight. He had been the odd man out when Detroit went to a six-man rotation this week with the addition of Keider Montero.

Brieske’s injury further remakes the late-inning mix for the Tigers’ bullpen. Veteran free-agent signing Tommy Kahnle has taken on a prominent role as the unofficial closer, including a two-inning save Thursday. Brieske and left-hander Tyler Holton had been entering for big outs in the middle innings.

Meadows begins throwing program

The long wait for outfielder Parker Meadows, who has been sidelined since early Spring Training by a nerve issue in his upper right arm, finally might have a light at the end of the tunnel. Meadows received clearance to begin a throwing program this week after a follow-up exam with specialist Dr. Raj Singh.

It’s a big step for Meadows, who has been doing everything but throwing in recent days, including a hitting program.

“We’ll look forward to seeing more and more positive reviews of him playing catching,” Hinch said. “We need that to happen before we get into the next phase of rehab. You kind of cross your fingers that initiating this throwing program can build a foundation to start to go a little faster.”

Meadows, who was placed on the 60-day injured list, is ineligible to return until late May.

Foley sidelined by shoulder issue in Toledo

Brieske wasn’t the only member of last year’s bullpen sidelined by injury. Jason Foley, who led the Tigers in saves last season, was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Toledo on Thursday with a right shoulder strain.

Foley, who was optioned to Toledo at the end of Spring Training, hadn’t pitched for the Mud Hens since April 12, when he tossed two hitless innings with three strikeouts. His velocity was down across his arsenal in that outing, including a couple miles per hour off his fastball and three miles per hour off his sinker, prompting Mud Hens athletic trainer Scott Thurston to make a mound visit during Foley’s second inning. Foley stayed in to finish the inning, but reported shoulder soreness afterwards, according to Hinch.

“We’re getting him evaluated,” Hinch said. “I feel for him, because it comes at a time where he was starting to throw the ball pretty well and [was] starting to look like the player that we expected him to be this spring.”