Justin Verlander Will Have MRI On Sore Shoulder As Tigers' Woes Mount

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, who has never missed a start because of a health issue, left the game against the Pirates Monday night after one inning and five runs because of what the club described as “right shoulder soreness,” John Lowe reports in the Free Press.

“It’s been lingering for a little while,” Verlander said.

Asked to define “a while,” he declined.

Verlander, 31, entered Monday 10-10 with a 4.57 ERA. His admission about “a while” raises the possibility that he has been pitching hurt for a while. On Monday night, he might have crossed the line from “hurt” to “injured.”

He will have a MRI today in Detroit.

It was the shortest start of Verlander’s nine-year career.