Verlander 'moving forward,' but still has hurdle to clear

DETROIT – Justin Verlander will not be ready to return when he’s eligible to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list on Thursday. But the Tigers’ veteran right-hander is trending toward a Minor League rehab start or simulated game that should put him in line to rejoin Detroit’s rotation shortly after.

Verlander, whose return to Comerica Park wearing the Olde English D was delayed by left hip inflammation, amped up the intensity level for his latest bullpen session Saturday morning, throwing more than 40 pitches. He said Sunday morning that he felt good afterward.

“I bounced back pretty good,” Verlander said. “I think everything’s moving forward. I think that’s a great sign.”

Verlander hasn’t faced hitters since March 30 at Arizona, where he allowed five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings.

“He’s likely to need an outing before we get back into the Major League competition,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “So we are not going to activate him right off of the bullpen.”

Verlander said Sunday he’s open to a rehab start.

“I think either one gets the job done,” Verlander said. “That’s kind of getting ahead of things a little bit. I think we’ll look at Minor League schedules, look at our schedule, kind of go from there. Obviously, I think a sim game’s going to be a little bit easier, but I don’t know how the training staff feels about that versus a little more competitive atmosphere. I’ve done both before. I think the thing I really have going for me is that both of those are an option because it’s been limited time [sidelined], and I haven’t stopped throwing.”

Both of the Tigers’ nearby affiliates, Triple-A Toledo and High-A West Michigan, are on the road next week. However, West Michigan will be nearby in Lansing for a six-game series against the Athletics-affiliated Lugnuts from Tuesday through Sunday.

“We haven’t finalized it yet,” Hinch said. “I mean, it’s always a question of what the player can get the most out of and where it is and things like that.”

Verlander made two rehab starts with Toledo in 2015, when he was rehabbing from a right triceps strain that put him on the injured list to begin the season. One of those starts was in Toledo on the night of a Jurassic World promotion, leading to the odd sight of a dinosaur mascot delivering the game ball to Verlander on the mound.

Verlander has never pitched for West Michigan. The Whitecaps were a Single-A affiliate in 2005, when Verlander began his pro career at what was then High-A Lakeland.