CHICAGO – Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander is ready to pitch in a real game.
The 43-year-old is scheduled start Tuesday, June 2, for Triple-A Toledo, beginning a rehab assignment in return from left hip inflammation. He previously completed two simulated games in preparation for games.
This will be Verlander’s first game since March 30 for the Tigers.
“Getting him into competition is something that we’ve been pushing for and he’s been pushing for,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Sunday’s series finale against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. “We feel like we can take a normal start and deal with odds and ends of a start, whether it’s various pitch counts, ups and downs. He can pitch significant innings.”
On Tuesday, the Verlander-led Mud Hens will be playing against the Iowa Cubs – the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs – at Principal Park in Des Moines.
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“I’m happy that he’s getting to that next step,” Hinch said. “I don’t know what it means or how many innings he’s even going to go.”
It’s unclear how many starts Verlander needs on his rehab assignment.
But he is already built up to approximately 70 pitches.
Verlander will return to Detroit on Wednesday to meet with the Tigers upon their evening return from a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, which begins Monday.
This story will be updated.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers’ Justin Verlander set for rehab start with Triple-A Toledo
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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