Tigers manager Jim Leyland told reporters in Boston for Thursday's game that the MRI on starting pitcher Doug Fister's side "showed something."

But head trainer Kevin Rand told reporters that nothing new was revealed aside from a recurrence of the strain in the costochondral junction in the pitcher's left side. There is no timetable on his return, but Rand said he "should not miss a month" like last time, reported Detroit News' Tom Gage.

Fister was placed on the 15-day disabled list — the second time he's been shelved in the season's first two months — Wednesday afternoon, after the soreness got progressively worse in his five starts since returning from the DL on May 7.

Looking just at results, Fister was stellar in his first start back, but pitched progressively worse, before having arguably his worst outing of his Tigers career on Tuesday. Leyland indicated to reporters Wednesday that pitching coach Jeff Jones had noticed changes in Fister's delivery since his return, possibly in an effort to compensate for the pain in his side.

If the Tigers were looking at a long-term rehabilitation process with Fister's injury (he's already missed half the season, in terms of games), the franchise could have found itself a in a position where starting pitching could be a bigger trade target than some of the other glaring holes — i.e. second base, designated hitter.