LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Tigers have not made any decisions on Justin Verlander yet.
But that time is soon approaching.
Verlander threw 2 2/3 innings in Dunedin, Fla., against the Toronto Blue Jays last Friday before leaving with a cramp in his right triceps muscle.
Sunday while the team was in Clearwater, Verlander did some light tossing but the muscle remained sore.
Verlander had said Monday that he was not going to throw until the soreness was completely gone from his triceps muscle.
Verlander said Tuesday he's still taking it day by day and remains optimistic.
"I just kind of got the arm moving a little bit with some light exercises and stuff," Verlander said. "Not outside."
Verlander said it's getting a little bit better every day.
"Obviously I would like a dramatic improvement, but it seems like it's one of those things that's going to get better and better," Verlander said. "At least it's getting better."
But it's going to have to improve a lot in the next day or two or Verlander's first scheduled regular season start Wednesday, April 8, is in jeopardy.
"If we get to the point Friday where he's not pitching, then probably looking at him not starting the Wednesday (regular season) game," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "We're not at that point yet."
Ausmus said Verlander would start in a minor league game Friday if he's ready.
Ausmus said because it was kind of an unusual thing for a pitcher to have a cramp or soreness in the triceps area, they weren't quite sure what to expect.
"I don't know that it's any better or worse than what we thought," Ausmus said. "I still think long-term he's going to be completely fine. Actually even more short-term I think it'll be completely fine."
Ausmus said they could place Verlander on the disabled list, retroactive to last Friday and he could still come off it and be available to pitch Sunday, April 12, in Cleveland.
However, Verlander has never been on the DL in his entire career and does not want to go on it now.
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