Notes: Verlander to make another rehab start; Tigers shuffle lineup
DETROIT -- The Tigers announced Tuesday that Justin Verlander, on the DL since March 29 with a right triceps strain, will make another rehab start this Saturday in Toledo.
"(Pitching coach Jeff Jones) and I talked to Ver," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "He had some normal soreness following the start. But after discussing how his outing went, how he felt, we all kind of a came to the conclusion that another rehab start would be beneficial."
Ausmus said it was likely that Verlander would be able to return to the Tigers for good after that, as long as everything goes well.
With Verlander still out, Kyle Ryan will start Friday in Chicago.
It was a busy day for the Tigers Tuesday.
In addition to calling up Daniel Fields to take Rajai Davis' spot while Davis is on paternity leave, the Tigers also optioned right-hander Buck Farmer to Triple-A Toledo, purchased the contract of infielder Josh Wilson from Toledo, reinstated Alfredo Simon from the bereavement list and lost infielder Hernan Perez on waivers to the Milwaukee Brewers.
"We thought we had a shot to get him through," Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said of Perez. "But if we thought we were legitimately going to get him claimed for sure, we probably would've had a better chance of trading him. There was minimal interest, and unfortunately we lost him. Sometimes you have to do those things to put your club in a position to make the moves you need to do."
Wilson will take Perez's role.
"He can play all three infield positions -- primarily second, short, but he's played some third as well," Dombrowski said. "He's a guy that you can sit on the bench for a while, still feel comfortable he can go out there and perform. He's played well also for us at Triple-A, but he is a guy that we thought could protect us in this role."
LINEUP SHUFFLE
The Tigers have struggled to score runs of late so Ausmus changed the lineup.
Jose Iglesias moved to second behind leadoff hitter Anthony Gose and Ian Kinsler moved down to fifth after Yoenis Cespedes.
J.D. Martinez was batting sixth, designated hitter Tyler Collins seventh, Nick Castellanos eighth and James McCann ninth.
"Things weren't working," Ausmus said. "So I looked at it, tried to find some way we could maybe mix it up, and somehow create more runs. I think the idea of Kinsler in the middle of those guys, makes a little bit more contact. That might help. We'll see."
V. MARTINEZ STILL AT HOME, AVILA DOING WELL
Victor Martinez remains at home rehabilitating his left knee.
"We had decided not to bring him up for three days," Ausmus said. "He hit off the tee yesterday, had a good workout this morning, and he's scheduled to hit again this afternoon."
Ausmus said Martinez would likely come back to Detroit when the team returns next week."
Meanwhile, Alex Avila, also rehabbing a left knee, started doing baseball activities Tuesday, hitting off a tee and doing long toss.
"Now that he can do baseball activities, assuming there's no setbacks, I think he'll move relatively quickly," Ausmus said. "He will have to play some games in the minor leagues, rehab. But I think we'll see him in relatively short order."
RONDON UPDATE
Bruce Rondon has pitched in back-to-back games and he was scheduled to throw an inning-plus Tuesday with the Mud Hens.
"He wouldn't be able to pitch for a couple of days after, so really nothing has to be done until Friday morning," Ausmus said.
