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Verlander appears likely to avoid extended absence

 
Published Aug. 13, 2014

PITTSBURGH — Tigers RHP Justin Verlander's sore right shoulder will likely force him to miss at least one start.

Detroit manager Brad Ausmus is thrilled, however, that the news isn't worse. Ausmus said an MRI exam Tuesday revealed inflammation "in a number of different areas" but no major structural damage.

"It's not a surgical injury, and as of right now it doesn't seem like he'll have to go on the DL," Ausmus said.

Verlander left Monday night's game after the first inning and complained of discomfort in the shoulder afterward. Though the initial prognosis is encouraging, he almost certainly won't pitch for 10 days.

Still, Ausmus remains encouraged simply because the prognosis could have been so much worse.

"It was definitely good news," he said. "Anytime you're talking about a pitcher and his arm, it's a very fragile area to be talking about. It was certainly a ray of light in a stormy sky."

MACHADO UPDATE: Orioles 3B Manny Machado was diagnosed with a sprained ligament in his right knee a day after he fell while batting. The severity remained unknown.

ASTROS: OF George Springer suffered a setback in his recovery from a quadriceps injury and is likely to miss another two weeks.

A'S: SS Jed Lowrie was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his right index finger, but he hopes to play through it.

INDIANS: OF David Murphy will miss four to five weeks with a strained right oblique muscle, sustained Saturday on a swing. Also, DH Nick Swisher had his sore right knee examined by a team physician.

PADRES: SS Everth Cabrera went on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain.

REDS: RHP Homer Bailey had his next start pushed back from Wednesday to Saturday because of elbow soreness. Manager Bryan Price said he didn't think the issue was serious.

WHITE SOX: RH reliever and former closer Matt Lindstrom, who had surgery in May to repair a tendon sheath in his left ankle, was activated from the 15-day disabled list.