Detroit Tigers fans will have to keep waiting for Justin Verlander at Comerica Park.
The Tigers scratched Verlander on Friday, June 19, from his scheduled start Sunday against the Chicago White Sox with a left hamstring strain. He was gearing up for what would’ve been his first start for the Tigers at Comerica Park since Aug. 20, 2017.
It’s been nearly nine years.
Now, it’s going to be at least a couple more weeks.
“This is not a matter of days,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Friday’s opener of a three-game series against the White Sox. “It’s a matter of weeks.”
The 43-year-old right-hander was lined up to return Sunday from left hip inflammation, but he reported a left hamstring strain after Wednesday’s bullpen session as the final box to check before Sunday’s start.
Instead of Verlander, right-hander Keider Montero will start Sunday’s game against the White Sox.
Verlander has been on the injured list since April 1.
“He came in my office with a pretty distraught look on his face that he had felt something different,” Hinch said. “He expressed some concern to the point that we got medical involved. We got a couple of different opinions. He’s going to be out for a bit.”
During his failed return, Verlander completed two rehab starts with Triple-A Toledo and three simulated games against hitters from the Tigers.
His workload had been built up to nearly 90 pitches.
“I know how much he was putting into this,” Hinch said. “It’s frustrating. He’s really upset, obviously. It’s a setback for him and certainly for us when we were ready to put him in the rotation.”
The Tigers signed Verlander to a one-year, $13 million contract in early February.
So far, Verlander has pitched just once in his second stint with the Tigers. He surrendered five runs across 3⅔ innings March 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.
During that start, Verlander suffered a left leg injury that the Tigers described as left hip inflammation.
This time, it’s another left leg injury.
“It’s a new injury – lower than the previous left leg injury that he had,” Hinch said. “He’s not going to make the start. We’re going to need a full rehab process to get him back.”
Verlander previously pitched for the Tigers from 2005-17.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Justin Verlander scratched from Sunday’s start by Detroit Tigers
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
