The Detroit Tigers’ signing of starting pitcher Kenta Maeda is looking worse by the minute. Maeda left Wednesday night’s game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field after only two pitches because of an apparent injury.

He grabbed at his right side and was removed after throwing a few warmup pitches in front of Tigers manager A.J. Hinch and trainers. He was replaced by Joey Wentz, who was clobbered on three earned runs off four hits and four walks in 2.2 innings of work.

Maeda will be examined to determine the exact nature of the injury.

He came into the game at 2-2, but with a 6.25 ERA and a WHIP of 1.413.

Maeda signed a two-year, $24M contract with Detroit during the offseason after four seasons with the Minnesota Twins. The 36-year-old was 6-8 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.169 WHIP in 21 games (20 starts) in 2023, after missing the 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery.

He spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 47-35 from 2016-19.

Maeda’s short stint on Wednesday comes one night after Detroit starter Jack Flaherty left after five innings with tightness in his back in a 3-1 win over the Rangers.

Flaherty said he would not miss his next start after the game.