UPDATE: According to Tom Gage of the Detroit News, Verlander will undergo an MRI tomorrow.
8:31 p.m. ET: According to Tom Gage of the Detroit News, Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander left tonight’s start against the Pirates in the second inning due to right shoulder soreness. This isn’t what the Tigers needed after they played 19 innings yesterday against the Blue Jays.
Verlander was hit hard before exiting, allowing five runs (four earned) while throwing 40 pitches. Two errors behind him didn’t help matters, but he also gave up four hits and walked two batters. He actually came up to bat in the top of the second inning and dropped down a sacrifice bunt before being replaced by Justin Miller.
Verlander hasn’t looked like himself all season and holds a 4.76 ERA after tonight’s outing. He’s scheduled to be reevaluated tomorrow, but it’s fair to wonder how long this has been an issue.