Though general manager Dave Dombrowski expressed some slight concern earlier in the week, it looks like Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander recovering well from core muscle surgery. Dombrowski told a group of reporters Saturday he thinks Verlander's recovery is ahead of schedule.
"He's doing tremendously," Dombrowski said, via MLive.com. "He's very determined. He's young. You're talking about a world-class athlete, and sometimes they can take longer. His healing process has been very good and ahead of schedule."
That is an improvement from just a few days ago, when Dombrowski expressed caution about expecting Verlander to be ready by the start of the season. After being informed that Verlander will be able to play catch Monday in Florida, Dombrowski's tone changed.
"That's why I said, 'Let's see what happens,'" he said. "I'd be surprised if he's not ready at this point, from everything I hear. I mean, he's starting to throw already."