As if the Detroit Tigers bullpen didn’t need more bad news.

Already minus one of the expected set-up men, Bruce Rondon, for the season, and beset by inconsistencies through the first six games of the season, the bullpen might have another issue brewing.

Closer Joe Nathan said on MLB Network Radio that he has a “dead arm,” but it “hasn’t hurt (the Tigers) too much.”

Nathan, who has a 6.75 ERA in three appearances — including one converted save and one blown one — in the regular season, was sporting a stim machine after his last outing on Saturday, when he ad the rest of the bullpen nearly allowed a six-run lead to evaporate.

“I think the club has overcome me not throwing as well as I’d like to. I think I’m still at a case of maybe some dead arm going right now. Usually that happens to the middle or later part of spring, and hopefully you get through it. Mine is going more into the season. And I’m still fine-tuning things. Fortunately, it hasn’t hurt us too much, and my tougher outings have still resulted in wins for us,” Nathan said on the Mad Dog Sports Radio show on Sirius XM on Wednesday afternoon. “There’s no secret to getting through it quicker, just have to keep throwing. ... Hopefully, one day you come there, and the ball’s coming out of your hand a lot cleaner, and with a little more zip on it.”

The Tigers’ bullpen has allowed nine total runs in the ninth inning — and 11 in the remainder of the innings combined — so far in six games. Detroit’s bullpen ERA of 5.74 ranks 10th in the American League, while it’s .299 batting average allowed is better only than the Houston Astros.

UPDATE:

Nathan spoke with reporters in Los Angeles after the radio appearance, and said "it's not even newsworthy," and that he was not concerned at all.

Here are some of the tweets from that conversation:

Joe Nathan on dead arm: "It's something you go through every spring. Nothing to worry about."
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) April 9, 2014

Joe Nathan said every pitcher gets a dead arm on occasion. He said he is available to close and has been all along.
— Chris Iott (@Chris_Iott) April 9, 2014

Nathan: "It's one of those things where you can feel great and nothing's there. It's almost frustrating."
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) April 9, 2014

Nathan: "Where I'm at now is fine. I can go out and pitch like that."
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) April 9, 2014

Nathan on "dead arm": "It's not an injury." Says it happens every year and he's available as usual tonight.
— Freep Tigers (@freeptigers) April 9, 2014

Here's the audio from the show: