# Tigers’ Justin Verlander hungry to get back into big-league competition
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Verlander was hoping he’d make his return in Houston this week. Instead, he will throw another simulated game Monday.
“It’s just become a day-to-day approach,” he said. “Just try to do what I can to get out there and pitch. It’s the best way to find out where you are at.”
Verlander would prefer his next test be in a game. He gave up four homers in his last minor-league rehab outing with Toledo, but he knows he’s close to being ready. The adrenalin bump that comes with actual competition is what he believes will take him where he needs to be.
“I don’t think there’s much more to sharpen,” he said. “I just need to pitch. It’s been a long time. It’s been a hard process but at this point, as close as I am, it’s just time to go pitch.”
There have been many conversations between Verlander, manager AJ Hinch and pitching coach Chris Fetter. The Tigers would’ve sent him on another rehab start, except, with Triple A being off on Monday, they didn’t want to push his routine back another day.
“It was a very straightforward conversation,” Hinch said. “Coming out of his last rehab outing, I think he felt fine. But whether fine is good enough is something we’re tackling.”
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“He knows where we’re at and he knows where our schedule is at,” Hinch said. “Inserting Tarik and Casey, to do a third one in a row, it’s more difficult to keep guys fresh and have to bring guys back ready and retain Keider Montero.”
The scenarios were fluid for the series in Houston, before Sunday’s rainout with the Cleveland Guardians. Troy Melton, Framber Valdez and Mize now are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Montero available to pitch out of the bullpen.
Skubal’s next start will be Friday against the White Sox at Comerica Park.
“We like that Verlander is trending in the right direction,” Hinch said. “He’s handling it by continuing to put in the work.”
Hinch, for the record, agrees with Verlander about the value of the adrenaline boost that comes with actual competition.
“It comes out in a lot of different ways,” he said. “I think everybody just assumes you can add two or three miles per hour, but that didn’t happen with Tarik, for example. He was throwing 99 in his sim game, 99 in his rehab start and 99 on Saturday. But there is a difference between a major league game and any other game you’ll ever pitch in.
“I trust Justin to know the difference in the uptick in stuff and how it impacts his stuff, and we’re going to lean on that, for sure.”
Series: Three games at Daikin Park, Houston
