Verlander Scheduled For Final Rehab Start Saturday, Could Return To Rotation Next Week
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
DETROIT - Starting pitcher Justin Verlander will make what should be his final rehab appearance Saturday, and then he should be ready to return to action for the Detroit Tigers, manager Brad Ausmus said Tuesday.
"I'd be surprised, unless something unforeseen happens, if this wasn't his last one," Ausmus said.
"If everything goes well on Saturday, it's reasonable to say that he'd probably start for the Tigers next time he pitches," Ausmus added.
Verlander has been on the disabled list with a triceps strain since the beginning of the season.
Ausmus said the decision to give Verlander one more rehab start was made by him, pitching coach Jeff Jones and Verlander.
Ausmus said he was not as worried with the results of Verlander's previous rehab start - he failed to make it out of the third inning and gave up three runs on six hits and two walks- as he was about how Verlander felt during the outing.
"I'm not really concerned with what the line is or how many hits he gave up, how many runs," Ausmus said. "It's more about how he felt on the mound. I think he probably felt a little bit rusty, which is normal; he hasn't thrown in a game in two months. It's more about how he feels, the action on the pitches, and how he bounces back, so I'm not really concerned about what the results were."
Ausmus indicated getting Verlander back will be a major boon for the Tigers, even though Kyle Lobstein, who replaced Verlander in the rotation, turned in a decent ERA of 4.34 in eight starts for Detroit.
"It'd be real good to get him back and have the five guys that we thought we had coming out of spring training, obviously," Ausmus said. "Lobstein has done a nice job before his injury in Verlander's place, but let's face it, Justin Verlander's a different animal when it comes to starting pitchers."
In his upcoming outing, Verlander will be wearing a Jurassic Park jersey because Saturday is PreHENstoric Night at Fifth Third Field.
