Verlander ready for rehab start
Tigers starter will pitch for Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday
Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander watches a play from the dugout during the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against the angels at Comerica Park in Detroit.
MLB
Detroit Tigers righthander Justin Verlander will start for Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday in his first real action since injuring his left hip in late March.
The 43-year-old veteran completed two simulated games before beginning his rehab assignment with the Mud Hens.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner was placed on the 15-day injured list with hip inflammation on April 4.
Tuesday's game against Iowa in Des Moines will be the first for Verlander since he allowed five runs to the Diamondbacks in 3²/³ innings during Detroit's 9-6 loss at Arizona on March 30, the lone appearance so far in his 21st season.
"Getting him into competition is something that we've been pushing for and he's been pushing for," manager A.J. Hinch said before Sunday's series finale against the host Chicago White Sox. "We feel like we can take a normal start and deal with odds and ends of a start, whether it's various pitch counts, ups and downs. He can pitch significant innings."
Verlander has built up to 70 pitches so far, but it is not clear how much time he will need on the rehab assignment. He will return to Detroit on Wednesday to meet with the team after its road trip to Tampa, according to the Detroit Free Press.
A nine-time All-Star, twotime World Series champion, and 2011 American League MVP, Verlander is 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA and 3,554 strikeouts in 556 MLB starts with four teams.
De La Cruz injured
Cincinnati Reds All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz left Sunday's game against the visiting Atlanta Braves after injuring his right hamstring trying to leg out a likely extra-base hit.
De La Cruz has started all 58 games this season, but that streak figures to be in jeopardy after the team confirmed De La Cruz was removed due to right hamstring tightness. The 24-year-old has enjoyed a season worthy of his third consecutive AllStar Game nod. De La Cruz is hitting .280 with 12 home runs, 37 RBIs and 10 steals.
Kimbrel placed on IL
The Tampa Bay Rays placed right-handed reliever Craig Kimbrel on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right wrist strain.
Kimbrel's lone appearance with the Rays came against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, during which he struck out a pair of batters in a scoreless frame.
The nine-time All-Star ranks fifth all time with 440 career saves. He is 56-50 with a 2.64 ERA in 866 career relief appearances.
Misiorowski cruises
Milwaukee starter Jacob Misiorowski capped a stellar month by twirling seven shutout innings while striking out eight Houston batters on Sunday.
In six starts during May, the hard-throwing righthander posted a 5-0 record with an 0.23 ERA, 57 strikeouts, and only six walks.
