DETROIT -- Tigers vs. Brewers, LHP Kyle Lobstein vs. RHP Mike Fiers
Early news: Bruce Rondon threw all of his pitches in a 25-pitch session to hitters on the Comerica Park field Monday afternoon.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said the thing with Rondon has always been the day after he throws.
Plus, Rondon is still going to have to prove he can pitch on back-to-back days.
Dana Wakiji -- So, Dave, when can we expect Rondon to pitch in a big league game? Soon?
Dave Hogg -- There is no reason to rush the process now after 14 months. I think that, barring any more setbacks, we'll see him late this month.
DW -- Justin Verlander threw 45 pitches in the bullpen and called it "the most intense bullpen" he's thrown yet.
Ausmus said Verlander would throw another bullpen -- not to hitters.
Then Verlander expects he would need a simulated game and at least one rehab start before making his season debut for the Tigers.
Dave, it looks like Verlander will be back in the not-too-distant future. What do you think people should expect from him?
DH -- I think he'll be pretty good. When David Price had this injury, he'd been pitching poorly before going on the DL, and after six weeks of recovery, he came back with great stuff. I don't think we should expect JV to go back to being a Cy Young and MVP candidate, but if he struggles, it could have more to do with last year's problems than this year's.
DW -- Shane Greene left after just five innings Friday night after experiencing some tingling in his ring and pinky fingers.
They're not sure what happened, but Greene said it might have been from swinging the bat.
Greene had an MRI, which was clear, threw yesterday and then a light bullpen today and said he's good to go.
Another good argument for the DH, Dave?
DH -- I think the DH was the worst rule change in baseball history, but the time to fix that was in 1975, not 2015. A pitcher that could hit made offenses more dangerous, much like a quarterback who can run or a power forward with 3-point range. These days, with the DH at every level of baseball other than the NL, it is a farce.
I hate to say it, but the NL needs to throw in the towel.
DW -- Speaking of Greene, he tweeted earlier in the day, "My bike better be here today."
Greene ordered a folding bike from Dahon and it hadn't arrived as of this afternoon.
The reason Greene is upset is David Price ordered his bike at the same time as Greene and already received it.
But when you win a Cy Young Award, you get special treatment, right, Dave?
DH -- Of course. Just ask Verlander and Max Scherzer's accountants.
Even the award itself has made a legend out of Cy Young, while Ol' Hoss Radbourne withered away in obscurity until his recent comeback on Twitter.
DW -- The Brewers notes amused me today.
About today's starter, Mike Fiers, they said, "Fiers has never faced the Tigers, though they rank as one of his favorite animals."
Dave, your thoughts?
DH -- I suspect there are some Tigers who think brewers are pretty cool, too. Nothing like a nice craft beer after a hot game.
Nostalgic series for me. My first Tigers game as a writer was against the Brewers back in 1990. A few years later, they played in the first interleague game I covered, and, of course, Milwaukee was the opponent for Verlander's no-hitter. We were both at that one.
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