Justin Verlander Might Miss Start of Season
Tigers ace Justin Verlander (Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports)
The Detroit Tigers might be facing a dilemma. Than again, they might not be. All depends on the health of Justin Verlander.
What?
News flowed from Tigers camp that ace right Justin Verlander could miss the start of the season. Reason? He is currently recovering from core muscle surgery which was performed on January 9th. The surgery was to performed in order to repair a muscle which was injured as Verlander was undergoing a regimen of offseason workouts.
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski is not concerned (from Cash Kruth of MLB.com):
"“I’m not concerned for him being out an extended period. If he misses any time of the season, it would only be a very short time period. I’m not ready to say that he will. But he’s doing very well.“We don’t want him to push too hard,” Dombrowski said. “We want him to follow the doctor’s schedule. He’s been under the doctor’s guidance. He’s stayed there so far. He’s been doing phenomenal. He’s already moving around. They say he’s at the point where he might start doing some movement drills and all beginning next week.”"
And what would the Tigers do if Verlander misses some time? If it’s more than “a very short time” as Dombrowski says, the three-time AL Central champs could have an issue within their starting rotation. Remember, they traded Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals.
Maybe it’s a good thing Detroit possesses arms like Max Scherzer, Anibal Sanchez, Rick Porcello and Drew Smyly. Surely they can ride out a short period of time, right?
Surgery on January 9th, but only two days later, Verlander was spotted with Kate Upton at a Philadelphia Flyers hockey game.
That had to suck. Can only assume the “healing” is going rather well.