DETROIT (CBS Detroit) Are the Detroit Tigers’ ace Justin Verlander and swimsuit stunner Kate Upton an item? The question keeps coming back.

For the first time, Upton herself answered it. And she said “no.”

“Actually, I’m single right now,” Upton told FOX 2 Detroit’s Jason Carr during a TV interview promoting her Sports Illustrated cover. Carr tried to get her to discuss the alleged Caribbean vacation the two took during the New Year’s holiday, and Upton responded, “I spent my holiday in Melbourne, Florida.”

This flies in the face of rumor and public spottings of the pair in metro Detroit — and Verlander’s grandfather’s confirmation of the coupling.

So what do you think metro Detroit, is she lying to appear more available to fans — or has Verlander struck out?