Detroit Tigers' Jim Leyland hopeful Jose Valverde will be available to pitch in Texas series

PITTSBURGH -- Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Jose Valverde will play catch today prior to his team's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Manager Jim Leyland is hopeful he can do more than that in a day or two.

The Tiger have been shorthanded in the bullpen since Tuesday, when Valverde suffered a sprained right wrist, and are eager to get their closer back.

"I'm hoping by the time we get to Texas," Leyland said. "It would be beautiful if it would be tomorrow, but I can't swear to that. But I'm hoping by the time we get to Texas he'll be ready to go."

The Tigers wrap up their series in Pittsburgh on Sunday and open a three-game set Monday against the Rangers in Texas.

"He's going to play catch and just see how he feels," Leyland said. "At some point I think he'd have to throw the split and see how that feels. ? But that's just one of those things. He may play catch today and not feel right and aggravate it a little more or he might feel 100 percent. I really can't answer that."

Valverde suffered an injury to the flexor tendon in his right wrist Tuesday while warming up in the ninth inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals. He is 3-2 with a 4.18 ERA and has converted 13 of 16 save opportunities. Valverde has a WHIP of 1.50, well above his career average of 1.19.

-- Follow Chris Iott on Twitter for regular updates on the Tigers.

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