Verlander scratched from Wednesday's start with stiff back

CLEVELAND (AP) Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander has been scratched from Wednesday's start against the Cleveland Indians because of back stiffness.

CLEVELAND (AP) Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander has been scratched from Wednesday's start against the Cleveland Indians because of back stiffness.

Verlander, who didn't pitch until mid-June because of a right triceps injury, is 0-1 with a 6.17 ERA in two starts. Verlander said he felt the stiffness during his start against the Yankees on Saturday.

''It's just kind of lingered a hair longer than we thought, trying to get over the hump,'' Verlander said after Detroit's 7-3 win over the Indians on Tuesday. ''In talking with our trainers and our coaching staff, they just don't really think at this point that it's worth it and push it and risk further injury.''

The Tigers have decided to take a conservative approach with Verlander, who won the AL Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Awards in 2011.

Manager Brad Ausmus said that he didn't think the injury was serious, but he didn't know when Verlander would make his next start. The Tigers hope Verlander, who threw in the bullpen Tuesday, will only miss one turn the through the rotation and it's possible he could start this weekend against the White Sox.

''He could probably go out there,'' Ausmus said. ''We're just going to be cautious and make sure he's healthy. We want to get rid of it before he starts again. There's no reason to risk it.''

''You don't want to put your team in a bind,'' Verlander said. ''If I go out there and start to do my warmups and all of a sudden I can't make the start, and now our bullpen has to cover nine innings, that can hamper a ballclub for a week.''

Verlander allowed six runs, including a homer by Alex Rodriguez for his 3,000th career hit, in 6 2-3 innings against the Yankees.

Right-hander Buck Farmer has been called up from Triple-A Toledo to start Wednesday. Right-hander Ian Krol was optioned to Toledo.