First Posted: 4/2/2015
LAKELAND, Fla. — It long has been a source of pride for Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander that he avoided the disabled list for the first 10 years of his MLB career.
But manager Brad Ausmus announced Thursday that Verlander will start the 2015 season on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Saturday, because of a triceps strain. Reliever Bruce Rondon will also start the season on the 15-day DL, with biceps tendinitis.
Verlander is expected to stay in Lakeland to continue throwing. He is optimistic that he’ll be able to make his season debut April 12, against the Cleveland Indians.
“It just works out that it allows the team to have an extra bullpen guy,” Verlander said of his first stint on the DL. “You know, it’s kind of a crappy way to have it go, but it helps the team so …”
This season starts the $28-million part of Verlander’s contract. He signed an extension in spring 2013 that replaced two existing years at $20 million apiece and added five more years (2015-19) at $28 million apiece.
“His arm will let us know when he can get back on the mound,” Ausmus said. “Cautiously optimistic he’ll get back on the mound Saturday or Sunday.”
Verlander has been throwing from 60 feet and said the injury is improving each day.
“Threw yesterday,” Verlander said. “It was OK. Threw today, it was better. They say it’s a really good sign that it’s getting better while I’m throwing, too. You know, optimistic about that.”
Verlander first described the injury as a cramp.
“Obviously, at this point, I think they used the word ‘strain,’ ” he said. “It felt like just a little cramp but, obviously, with it taking a little longer to heal, it’s probably a little bit more than that.
“Just take it, like I said, day by day. I mean, I know that’s kind of been like a broken record, but it’s really the way to treat it.”
Is he concerned about the injury?
“No, I think it’s just kind of a bump in the road early on,” he said. “I know I’ve touched on how much better my mechanics are, how much further out front I’m getting. More extension — I think just a combination of that and a little bit of dehydration kind of created the situation. I’m not overly concerned. I’m not really that concerned at all. Once it’s healed, I’ll be good to go.”
Verlander was supposed to make his first start Wednesday, in the second game of the season at Comerica Park. David Price will pitch Opening Day on Monday, against the Minnesota Twins.
Anibal Sanchez will now start Wednesday, followed by Shane Greene next Thursday. Alfredo Simon will start April 10 in Cleveland, followed by Price. If all goes well between now and then, Verlander would start the third game of that series.
“Pretty confident,” Verlander said of being able to start April 12. “Like I said, just a daily thing. If I’m good to go throw my bullpen, I’ll throw my bullpen. If I’m good to make my start, I’ll make my start. The main thing to focus on right now is … we’re at the very beginning of April now. You don’t want to sacrifice an entire season to try to speed things up. If it’s September, it’s a different story. But right now, you don’t want to put yourself at risk for missing more time in the middle of the season than you have to.”
Verlander is trying to look at his first DL stint as a positive.
“At least I can take solace in the fact that I’m going on the DL to help the team,” he said. “Even if, tomorrow, it’s fine and dandy and I feel great, I wouldn’t be able to start until Sunday. And even though I’d be able to, I’d still go on the DL just because we get that extra guy, and it benefits the club.”
Verlander said he was happy with the way he threw this spring, before the injury occurred.
“Oddly enough, my last start was, in a nutshell, kind of what I’d been looking for for two years,” he said. “That was it. That was like, ‘All right, let’s go!’
And then this setback.
