PHOENIX — For a starting pitcher, Justin Verlander said, there’s such a thing as too much rest.
And the two extra days he had this time were too many, he said.
Still, Verlander pitched into the seventh inning while the Detroit bats did the rest in the Tigers’ 7-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.
“It’s a weird thing. It’s hard to explain,” Verlander said, “but being a little too fresh, your arm’s working a little quicker and I just couldn’t quite catch up with my curve ball.”
Verlander (3-2) hadn’t pitched since May 2 as manager Brad Ausmus ordered the extra two days off after his ace right-hander threw 119 and 118 pitches in consecutive starts.