Victor Martinez Held Out Of Lineup, Will Be Back In Saturday
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus decided to hold designated hitter Victor Martinez out of the lineup Friday to give his left knee, on which Martinez underwent surgery this offseason, another day of rest. Ausmus indicated, however, that there is little cause for concern.
"He'll be back in there tomorrow," Ausmus said in the dugout Friday morning. "I just wanted to give him one more day off the left side. The left side's the weaker side. He had the day off yesterday - day off Wednesday, day off Thursday, gave him the day off today, and then we've got a couple lefties, so he'll be back in there, but I think these three days will help that calm down."
Ausmus clarified that Martinez's left knee - not his back, as some reports stated - was the cause for the days off.
Martinez participated in batting practice Friday, and Ausmus said he will be available to pinch-hit.
Other injury notes --
Ausmus said he had not talked to starting pitcher Justin Verlander yet, so the manager had no update on what the next step is for Verlander as he works to come back from a triceps strain. The pitcher had experienced normal soreness Thursday after throwing in a simulated game Wednesday, Ausmus said. Verlander ended that game after three innings - the initial goal was four - because of fatigue. Ausmus confirmed Verlander will not pitch Tuesday's game. Kyle Lobstein will start instead.
Ausmus did not say whether Verlander will need a rehab start, which the pitcher has made clear he does not want to do.
"We'll cross that when we get there," Ausmus said.
Reliever Bruce Rondon also has a few steps remaining on his path back from the disabled list.
"He'd have to pitch in games, for sure," Ausmus said. "He was going to do back-to-back, and then this flared up that day he was supposed to pitch the second of two. So he definitely would have to pitch in games and go back-to-back, see how he responds."
Closer Joe Nathan, also on the disabled list, threw a light bullpen Friday, but Ausmus had not yet talked with him about how it went.
