Tigers' Justin Verlander hungry to get back into big-league competition

Cleveland — Justin Verlander was searching for a polite PG-13 way to say what he wanted to say.“Like, I don’t want it to sound rude, but it’s time to s--- or get off the pot,” he said.It’s been a frustrating stretch for the 43-year-old future Hall-of-Famer who has been trying to get back from a hip injury since April 1.

“It’s been tough, mentally,” he said. “I’m disappointed that I’m not out there pitching. A short-term thing turned into a long-term thing.”

Verlander was hoping he’d make his return in Houston this week. Instead, he will throw another simulated game Monday.“It’s just become a day-to-day approach,” he said.

“Just try to do what I can to get out there and pitch. It’s the best way to find out where you are at.”Verlander would prefer his next test be in a game.

He gave up four homers in his last minor-league rehab outing with Toledo, but he knows he’s close to being ready. The adrenalin bump that comes with actual competition is what he believes will take him where he needs to be.“I don’t think there’s much more to sharpen,” he said.

“I just need to pitch. It’s been a long time. It’s been a hard process but at this point, as close as I am, it’s just time to go pitch.”

There have been many conversations between Verlander, manager AJ Hinch and pitching coach Chris Fetter. The Tigers would’ve sent him on another rehab start, except, with Triple A being off on Monday, they didn’t want to push his routine back another day.“It was a very straightforward conversation,” Hinch said.

“Coming out of his last rehab outing, I think he felt fine. But whether fine is good enough is something we’re tackling.”The Tigers already have integrated Tarik Skubal into the rotation.

Casey Mize was expected to return Sunday, but stormy weather pushed that to Wednesday. There wasn’t an easy path to slot Verlander in, even if he was firing on all cylinders.“He knows where we’re at and he knows where our schedule is at,” Hinch said.

“Inserting Tarik and Casey, to do a third one in a ro