Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander plans to start on Saturday

Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander said he plans to return to the rotation on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins after missing one start because of a sore right shoulder. Verlander left his Aug. 11 start against the Pittsburgh Pirates after one inning and being tagged with five runs on four hits while walking two. An MRI later revealed inflammation but no structural damage.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander said he plans to return to the rotation on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins after missing one start because of a sore right shoulder.

Verlander left his Aug. 11 start against the Pittsburgh Pirates after one inning, in which he was tagged with five runs on four hits while walking two. An MRI later revealed inflammation but no structural damage.

In preparation for the start, Verlander threw for a second straight day and plans to throw a bullpen session on Thursday.

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He says the possibility of starting one game of a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday against Minnesota is "strong to quite strong." Bud Farmer will be called up from Triple-A Toledo and start the other game of the twin-bill.

“The plan was to throw," Verlander said, according to USA Today. "Yesterday was light catch, just to kind of get everything moving again. Today I backed it up long toss, stretched it out a little bit. Started to work the kinks out. Today felt a lot better than yesterday."

Verlander is 10-11 with a 4.76 ERA in 25 starts this season for Detroit, who trail the Kansas City Royals by one game in the American League Central.

- Scooby Axson