Anthony Fenech

Detroit Free Press

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Daniel Norris will start the season on the disabled list.

After seeing a back specialist today, the Detroit Tigers left-hander was diagnosed with three non-displaced fractures in the spinal process, according to team trainer Kevin Rand.

The diagnosis, Rand said, “sounds a whole lot worse than it is.”

Regardless, Norris will not be ready to start the season. He won’t pick up a baseball for five days, and the timetable for his return has not changed.

“We don’t know exactly,” manager Brad Ausmus said, “But as soon as the pain goes away. Really, it’s once he feels better.

"It doesn’t seem to be anything long term."

Norris lasted only 26 pitches in his latest start, which came three days after he was scratched because of the same symptoms.

In 2015, Norris posted a 3.75 ERA in 13 starts between the Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays. He was the centerpiece of the team’s return for lefty ace David Price at the trade deadline and was thought to be the front-runner for a rotation spot this spring.

In four spring appearances, he allowed seven runs on 12 hits, with eight strikeouts and four walks.

The fifth-starter competition now will come down to righties Shane Greene and Buck Farmer and lefty Matt Boyd. Boyd, who was also part of the Price trade, was beat up a bit in today's 6-4 loss to his former team, allowing three earned runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Greene is likely the leading candidate for the job but could start in the bullpen if the team decides they’re better off top-to-bottom with him providing long relief and Boyd starting, versus taking a different reliever they are less confident in.

“Ultimately, we’re trying to put the best team on the plane to Miami and then Detroit, but those are all considerations that will come,” Ausmus said.

The Tigers won’t need a fifth starter until April 12. Who it will be has yet to be determined, but it won’t be Norris.

Injury report: Designated hitter Victor Martinez was scheduled to run the bases today in Tiger Town, in the first part of a progression to get back onto the field. Martinez has been sidelined since March 14 with a mild left hamstring strain. He has been taking batting practice. … Lefty reliever Blaine Hardy will be sidelined for a few days with shoulder soreness, which Ausmus termed “fatigue.” … Righty reliever Alex Wilson was scheduled to throw a live batting practice session, and could make his spring debut this weekend. He has been working his way back from shoulder soreness.

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.

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