Justin Verlander may not want to hear it but he really does need another rehab start.
Verlander, who had not started in a game since March 27, made his first rehab start Sunday in Indianapolis for the Toledo Mud Hens.
Verlander left his start with two outs in the third inning March 27 in Dunedin against the Toronto Blue Jays with a right triceps strain.
It took more than two months but Verlander had finally gotten to the point where he was ready for real game action.
Pitching for the first time in his career as a Mud Hen, Verlander faced the Indians, the Pittsburgh Pirates Triple-A affiliate.
In the first inning, Verlander threw 20 pitches, allowing one single and striking out one. His fastball topped out at 94 miles per hour.
In his second inning, Verlander ran into trouble, giving up a one-out single and then walking two in a row to load the bases.
Verlander then struck out Gustavo Nunez on a 95 mile-per-hour fastball.
Verlander's defense then let him down as shortstop Dixon Machado lost a pop-up that left fielder Xavier Avery couldn't get to in time, which let two runs score.
Verlander hit a batter before finally getting out of the inning after throwing 36 pitches, running his total to 56.
The Mud Hens managed to tie the game at 2 in the top of the third.
But Verlander's command was still off in the bottom of the third.
The first two Indians batters reached on singles, then Verlander got Jaff Decker to strike out on a 94 mile-per-hour fastball.
Elias Diaz hit a bloop single to center field that Daniel Fields did not get a good jump on, loading the bases for the second straight inning.
Former Tigers farmhand Gorkys Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly for the go-ahead run and Mud Hens manager Larry Parrish removed him.
"He threw some good pitches but he wasn't consistent and looked like he hadn't been out there in a while," Parrish told reporters in Indianapolis. "We had a couple plays we didn't make on the field and that led to the runs."
Verlander's final line was 2 2/3 innings pitched, 6 hits, 3 runs, 3 earned runs, two walks, three strikeouts and one hit batter. Verlander threw 79 pitches, 50 for strikes.
"I felt all right and there were no issues with where I was injured," Verlander told reporters in Indianapolis. "Obviously, I would have liked to be more consistent in the strike zone but overall, I think the bottom line is being healthy and I felt healthy."
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus had said that Verlander would throw 80-85 pitches.
Verlander could have gone deeper in the game had the Indians not fouled off 23 of his pitches.
"It was more mechanical," Verlander said. "Inconsistencies throughout all the mechanics don't really allow you to repeat as well as you'd like. A lot of that comes from being the first time in a game and the first time really amping it up."
Now the Tigers will have to decide what the next step is for Verlander, as long as he feels fine tomorrow.
Parrish said he thought Verlander would get another rehab start, but he knew it wasn't his call.
Naturally, Verlander would prefer to avoid another rehab start.
"I think it's just a matter of how I feel," Verlander said. "Obviously, your preference isn't to make another one. I want to help the (Tigers) in any way I can."
Based on how long he's been out and the tough time he had with his command, Verlander would be best served by getting at least one more rehab start before he returns to pitch for the Tigers.
