VERLANDER MAKES DEBUT IN MAJORS MONDAY

Former Old Dominion University pitcher Justin Verlander apparently will get his first major league start for the Detroit Tigers Monday versus Cleveland.

Less than a year into his first professional season, Verlander, currently No. 1 on Baseball America's weekly list of hottest prospects in the minors, will pitch the second game of a day-night double header against the Indians, according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch.

"You never know what can happen," Verlander said. "They told me [yesterday] that they had a sixth spot [in the rotation] open and I was the guy. I'm pretty stoked about it. Obviously, there will be some nerves involved [at Cleveland]," said the 22-year-old. "But I've pitched in some nerve-wracking situations before."

This article was posted on: July 1, 2005