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Justin Verlander to begin season on disabled list with triceps soreness
After 1,978 innings pitched and 298 games started, Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander will go on the disabled list for the first time in his career. Verlander is dealing with a triceps strain, and will miss the start of the season due to the issue, according to mlive.com's Chris Iott.
The injury isn't expected to keep Verlander sidelined for long. The 32-year-old right-hander is tentatively scheduled to return April 12 against the Cleveland Indians. His stint on the disabled list will be backdated to the last time he pitched, making April 12 the first day he's eligible to return.
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Manager Brad Ausmus told mlive.com that Verlander wasn't happy about the move, but understands the long-term benefit.
"He's not happy about going on the DL," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "But he realizes that it's more important that he be healthy. If he does start on that Sunday, essentially he doesn't miss a start."
Verlander has dealt with injuries in the past, though they have never led to time on the disabled list. Most notably, he had surgery on his abdomen during the 2014 offseason. He's also missed starts due to general arm fatigue and soreness, though none of those issues turned into anything serious.
The injury comes at an interesting time in Verlander's career. The right-hander has been seeking a bounce-back after posting a 4.54 ERA in 206 innings last season. Verlander blamed a fair amount of his struggles to his surgery last offseason, saying he couldn't fully work out due to his recovery.
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He's been optimistic about his outlook for 2015, telling the Detroit Free Press that he "busted his butt" all offseason. Verlander also received strong reviews from his catchers during early bullpen sessions.
The Tigers are certainly hoping the old Verlander can return once he's fully recovered. After winning the American League Central in each of the past four seasons, the team's time at the top is in question.
Getting back the Verlander of old would go a long way in helping the team fend off its division-mates for a fifth straight year. Making sure he's healthy to begin the season is the first step.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
