Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland will start Justin Verlander on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals, a day ahead of his next scheduled start in the rotation, so that Verlander will be able to pitch in next weekend's series against the first place Chicago White Sox, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Verlander picked up a no-decision today after allowing two runs in nine innings in an extra innings win over the Toronto Blue Jays. He will be pitching on normal rest Tuesday against the Royals, but the team has an off-day on Monday, allowing Leyland to skip someone in the rotation. If Verlander took his normal turn on Wednesday, he'd miss next weekend's series with the White Sox, who lead the Tigers by 1.5 games in the AL Central standings.
Verlander, the reigning AL MVP and Cy Young winner, is 12-7 with a 2.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP this season. He's received no-decisions in his last three starts, despite giving up three runs or fewer each time. The Tigers are 2-1 in those games, however. The Tigers open a three-game series at home against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tomorrow.
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