Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Trio of doctors looking over Verlander's MRI

CHICAGO -- Justin Verlander underwent a third MRI exam on his strained right triceps here Tuesday morning, hoping to be cleared to begin his throwing program again.

"We got the MRI results, but we haven't spoken to all the doctors," manager Brad Ausmus said after Tuesday night's 5-2 loss to the White Sox. "Once we hear from all the doctors, I'll let you know."

Verlander was also waiting as of Tuesday evening. Three doctors -- one with the team -- have been looking over Verlander's tests and progress reports and making recommendations, he said earlier. That includes the latest MRI.

So far, Verlander said Tuesday, the doctors have been "pretty much on the same page" regarding his work.

His impatience is obvious.

"Hopefully we'll hear something soon," Verlander said. "I'm itching. I told [head athletic trainer] Kevin [Rand] if I get that green light, man, it's going to be hard to hold me back. I'm ready to go."

Verlander has been undergoing near-weekly MRIs since cutting his simulated game in Pittsburgh short three weeks ago and experiencing soreness afterward. Team officials have insisted Verlander won't begin a throwing progression again until the MRI shows no fluid around the triceps, indicating that inflammation is gone. It's an unusual approach to what Verlander calls an unusual injury, but they're trying to avoid any more stops and starts.

In the meantime, Verlander has been doing exercises as well as "extremely light" tossing, as Ausmus put it, meant more to keep Verlander occupied than to suggest he's any closer to pitching.

"In doing all these exercises, it feels pretty normal. It's a little better now," Verlander said. "But it was really hard to replicate any sort of injury feeling or sharp pains or anything in doing normal activities, so it's really hard to assess.

"I don't think anybody's at fault for it lingering. Can't force the body to heal. And honestly, even in the [simulated] game, I don't think I reinjured it. I think it was just telling me it wasn't ready. I never felt that same grab, the same sharp pain. It was just kind of achy. And then after that, it was much more sore than it should've been."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason.
Read More: Detroit Tigers, Justin Verlander