Tigers clear Verlander for rehab start with Toledo

OAKLAND, Calif. – Justin Verlander is headed to Triple-A.

And for the first time in his professional baseball career, the Detroit Tigers right-hander will wear a Toledo Mud Hens uniform.

He will start his rehabilitation assignment with Toledo against the Indianapolis Indians on Sunday, manager Brad Ausmus said today. He will throw between 80 and 85 pitches.

Verlander threw 70 pitches over four-plus innings in a simulated game Tuesday at O.co Coliseum. A day later, he reported no significant soreness and said he felt good.

"He wasn't complaining," Ausmus said. "He's walking around the clubhouse like he's fine."

In the simulated game, facing teammates Bryan Holaday, Hernan Perez, Tyler Collins and Dixon Machado, Verlander allowed two hits. He struck out eight and walked one.

"It went really well," he said. "Obviously, first and foremost, the most important thing was I felt really good. Stuff was good – it got better as it went along – so all-in-all, I was very pleased."

Alex Wilson gets spot start today

Whether Verlander makes multiple rehabilitation starts with Toledo remains to be seen.

"It's all going to depend on how the first one goes, then we'll make a decision," Ausmus said.

Verlander, 32, has been sidelined since March 27 with a right triceps strain.

He is looking to bounce back from a subpar 2014 season in which he allowed an American League-high 104 earned runs in 206 innings. Last season, Verlander posted a 4.54 ERA with a 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings ratio, the lowest of his 10-year big league career.

He rose through the Tigers' minor league system without a stop in Triple-A, jumping from Double-A Erie in 2005 to the major leagues in 2006.

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

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