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Tigers' Verlander on triceps cramp: 'I never really felt like that before'

Jonathan Dyer / USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander said he expects to make his final spring start after leaving Friday's outing against the Toronto Blue Jays with a cramp in his right triceps.

Verlander exited with two outs in the third after a Ryan Goins groundout. He was greeted by trainers and coaches on the mound following the play, and after a brief discussion, decided to exit the contest.

Verlander, who showed good velocity and sharp break on his secondary pitches through the first two innings, described the cramp as a strange and uncomfortable sensation. 

"Going into the third, the first couple (throws) were nice and easy and then I threw a curveball and I felt it when I got extended. My tricep kind of grabbed on me a little bit and then from that point on the rest of the pitches I threw was a similar feeling," Verlander told reporters

"When I got fully extended, it felt kind of crampy. It was weird I never really felt like that before but it doesn't seem like anything serious."

Verlander allowed only one hit - a solo home run to Dalton Pompey - and struck out two before he was forced to leave the game.

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said it's the best Verlander's looked during spring training in years after watching him throw in the 94-95 mph range and topping out at 96.

"When he's throwing like this he's one of the best pitchers in baseball," Dombrowski said.

Verlander's scheduled to be re-evaluated Saturday.

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