Justin Verlander to throw 80-85 pitches in rehab start, could rejoin Tigers next week - MLB

It’s been a long time coming, but the Tigers have cleared Justin Verlander to begin a minor-league rehab assignment as he comes back from the triceps injury that’s sidelined him since spring training.

Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports that Verlander will start Sunday at Triple-A and is expected to throw 80-85 pitches. Verlander previously threw a simulated game Tuesday, so his arm strength is nearly built up enough to take on a full workload.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus indicated that the team will evaluate Verlander’s performance Sunday before determining if he’ll make a second rehab start, which means if things go well he could be back in Detroit’s rotation next week.

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OAKLAND, Calif. – Major League Baseball is looking into a video circulating on social media that appears to show Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon grab a fan by the shirt through the bleacher guardrails after Thursday night’s game in Oakland, a league spokesperson said Friday.

Rendon looks to have grabbed the fan’s shirt near his chest through the bars of the railing and exchanged words with him before appearing to take a swipe at the bill of the man’s ballcap and walking into the tunnel.

Angels spokesman Adam Chodzko says the team has no comment. The Angels do not play Friday, but the club expects Rendon to address the video Saturday in the clubhouse before the game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland.

The video shows the fan, dressed in A’s colors, approach the railing as Rendon turns toward him from the tunnel walkway below. Rendon then appears to grab the man’s shirt and ask him what he just said, accusing the fan of calling him a derogatory term before swiping at his ballcap.

The A’s won the game 2-1.