LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – MARCH 07: Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium on March 7, 2015 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Justin Verlander is going on the DL for the first time in his career

Posted by TOC Locker on Apr 2, 2015 11:45

Justin Verlander has been a work horse in the majors since his rookie year of 2006. Since that rookie season, Verlander has made at last 30 starts in nine straight seasons, and has crossed the 200 inning mark in eight of those seasons. He’s never spent any time on the disabled list.

Well, that streak will come to an end on Opening Day, because Verlander is heading to the DL for the first time in his career.

The DL stint also ends Verlander’s streak of seven straight Opening Day starts for the Tigers, as David Price will get the nod on Monday against Phil Hughes and the Twins. The last Tiger to start an Opening Day that wasn’t Verlander? That would be the immortal Jeremy Bonderman in 2007.

The injury dooming Verlander is a sore triceps, which caused him to be pulled from his start on Friday against the Blue Jays.

But the injury isn’t expected to be a long-term thing for Verlander – he’s expected to be activated on April 12th, which would set him up for a matchup with reigning AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber and the Cleveland Indians.

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