PITTSBURGH — Justin Verlander won’t be coming off the disabled list next week as the Detroit Tigers hoped.
The right-hander’s simulated game Wednesday afternoon was stopped after three innings and 45 pitches because he was fatigued. The Tigers had hoped Verlander, who is on the DL with a strained right triceps, would be able to go at least four innings and 60 pitches, and possibly even be stretched to 75 pitches.
Wednesday marked the first time Verlander faced hitters since March 27 in an exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
“I think it’s more kind of a fatigue from not throwing,” Verlander said of his shortened outing. “For 20 days, the most I’ve thrown is 35-40 pitches in a bullpen. I think I probably, all in all, threw 80 pitches (Wednesday, including warmups), which is double the workload I’ve been having, and obviously at a bit more effort that I haven’t had for 2 1/2 weeks.”
The Tigers had hopes Verlander might be ready to start next Tuesday against the New York Yankees but that is now out of the question.
“You can’t go from 45 pitches into a major league game,” manager Brad Ausmus said before his team beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 on Wednesday night.
Ausmus said a decision would be made Friday on whether Verlander’s next step would be another simulated game or a minor league rehab start.
Verlander would prefer not to make a start in the minors.
“I feel like especially after today, it’s not like I came out there and was totally lost,” Verlander said. “Location-wise and stuff-wise, it wasn’t like it just evaporated. It was still all there. Obviously, if I feel like I’m good enough to go on a rehab start, I feel like I’m good enough to pitch in the big leagues.”