Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander will miss several weeks with a left hamstring strain, delaying the planned return of the three-time Cy Young winner to the club's MLB rotation, MLB Trade Rumors reported Friday.
Verlander had been expected to come off the 60-day injured list and start Sunday, with Keider Montero moving to the bullpen. That plan changed after Verlander suffered the hamstring injury while throwing a bullpen session Wednesday, according to MLBTR, citing Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic.
Verlander Setback Keeps Montero In Rotation
Montero is now expected to make that start instead. MLB's official roster feed listed Montero as active on Saturday and still showed Verlander on the 60-day injured list with left hip inflammation, the original issue that had kept him from pitching since March.
The setback extends a stop-start reunion between Verlander and Detroit. The Tigers signed him in the offseason to a one-year deal with a $13 million guarantee, including $11 million deferred, but he has made only one start this season, on the road in Arizona.
That appearance came before left hip inflammation sent him to the injured list. His planned Sunday outing would have been his first start back in Detroit colors at home, but the hamstring strain pushes that moment deeper into the summer.
Tigers Rotation Depth Stays Thin
The Tigers have recovered some rotation ground lately. Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize and Troy Melton have returned from the injured list in recent weeks, joining Framber Valdez and Montero in the current group.
Detroit is still working around multiple pitching injuries. MLB's transaction log confirmed Jack Flaherty was placed on the 15-day injured list June 13 with a left peroneal strain, while MLBTR noted Reese Olson is done for the year and Jackson Jobe is still returning from Tommy John surgery.
For now, the practical change is simple: Verlander's activation is on hold, Montero remains in the rotation, and Detroit loses another layer of starting-pitching depth after preparing to get one of its biggest names back.