Jose Valverde out with sprained wrist

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DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers closer Jose Valverde has a sprained right wrist, but the team is hopeful the injury won't keep him out too long.

Valverde

Detroit trainer Kevin Rand says Valverde will use a wrist immobilizer for the next two or three days. The right-hander felt pain while warming up during Tuesday night's win over the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Tigers brought Phil Coke in to close instead.

Manager Jim Leyland hasn't named a specific closer to fill in for Valverde. Right-hander Joaquin Benoit has a 1.99 ERA in 32 appearances.

Valverde went all of 2011 without blowing a save, but he's struggled this year. He has 13 saves in 16 chances with a 4.18 ERA, and he's walked 17 hitters in 28 innings.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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