Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
This week, it was reported that Detroit Tigers‘ starting pitcher Justin Verlander had been cleared to make a rehab start for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on Sunday. The 2011 AL Cy Young and MVP award winner has been kept on the sidelines the entire season due to a triceps injury he sustained in Spring Training.
Obviously, the biggest question is the issue of what to expect from Verlander upon his return to the Tigers. After undergoing core muscle repair surgery in January of 2014, the right-hander had his worst season since 2008 last year, going 15-12 with a 4.54 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. However, it should be noted that his 3.74 FIP was much better than his ERA, and he may benefit from the Tigers’ vastly improved defense this season.
While it may still be a bit unrealistic to expect Verlander to pitch the way he did when he was at his absolute best from 2009-12, the Verlander of 2013 may be all that is required. Although many raised concerns about Verlander showing signs of regression during the 2013 campaign, his 4.8 fWAR was still the fourth-best mark in the American League, trailing only Felix Hernandez along with teammates Anibal Sanchez and Max Scherzer. Plus, he was his normal lights-out self in the postseason, allowing only one earned run over three starts.
Once Verlander is finally ready to return to the Tigers’ rotation, he will be joining a staff that has been quite inconsistent all season long. As of Friday, Tigers starters ranked 17th in MLB with a 4.15 ERA. One of the biggest problems has surprisingly been Sanchez, who has gone 3-5 with a 6.12 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.
Of course, there are a few quality pitchers who may be on the move this summer, and some of them could eventually make sense for the Tigers. However, in a perfect-world scenario, a 2013-esque Verlander may be all they need.
Brad Faber is a Senior Writer and Sabermetrics Columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Brad_ Faber, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on LinkedIn or Google.
