Tigers will skip Willis’ next turn in rotation

Willis won’t make next start

ST. LOUIS — Struggling Detroit pitcher Dontrelle Willis will not make his next scheduled start, manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday.

Willis walked eight in 3 2-3 innings in a loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday, and has walked 18 in 11 innings over his last three starts. He’s 1-4 with a 7.49 ERA in seven starts.

Leyland declined to elaborate on his decision. He said he had a replacement in mind for Willis’ next turn on Saturday against Milwaukee, but would not identify him.

“Dontrelle will not pitch Saturday, and that’s the end of the conversation,” Leyland said before the Tigers played Tuesday night at St. Louis. “There’s no further information that goes along with that. No more questions about that.”