The Tigers enter the season with high expectations. A lot of those expectations are tied to the health of starting pitcher Justin Verlander.
The former American League Cy Young Award winner and MVP will miss his next spring start Thursday after suffering what the team called a cramp in his right triceps Friday. The arm was still sore Monday.
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"We just have to wait and see," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said, according to The Associated Press. "He has to pitch sometime before the regular season." Ausmus didn't rule out Verlander pitching in a minor league game before the team returns to Detroit.
Verlander remains hopeful of making his first scheduled regular-season start on April 8. No. 3 starter Anibal Sanchez would move up to take the start if Verlander can't go, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Verlander, 32, is coming off his worst season as a major leaguer. He posted a 4.54 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP and a 159:65 K:BB ratio over 206 innings.