Injured Houston Astros Cy Young Winner Close To Rotation Return

Both Houston Astros manager Joe Espada and general manager Dana Brown commented on the status of Justin Verlander on Sunday.

Sep 6, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) walks off / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

It looks like the Houston Astros may have at least one reinforcement coming for the starting rotation next week.

Both manager Joe Espada and general manager Dana Brown commented on the status of staff ace Justin Verlander on Sunday before the Astros played the Texas Rangers.

The Astros ace, who has been on the injured list since the start of the season due to a shoulder issue, made his second rehab start on Saturday with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks.

Espada told The Athletic that it’s possible that Verlander could start for Houston when they face the Washington Nationals on Friday. But, at the time he hadn’t spoken to the 41-year-old as he was returning from Frisco, Texas, where the Hooks played the Frisco RoughRiders.

Brown made an appearance on SportsTalk 790, which carries Astros games in Houston, and said he hoped that Verlander would be able to re-join the team on the upcoming road trip, which starts in Washington. But he wasn’t willing to pin down a particular date.

Still, he made it sound like Verlander was done with rehab starts.

“We need to get him back in the rotation,” he said. “He's back.”

The Astros have five starting pitchers on the injured list right now. Framber Valdez has been on the 15-day injured list for nearly a week due to left elbow inflammation. José Urquidy went on the injured list before Opening Day and isn’t expected back until May after he suffered a right forearm strain.

Luis Garcia is continuing his recovery from Tommy John surgery and will be back sometime this season. Lance McCullers Jr. is expected back midseason after he had right forearm surgery last year.

Verlander threw 77 pitches on Saturday night and gave up seven hits, six runs (five earned) and one walk while he struck out three.

In his first rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land the previous Sunday he threw three-plus innings, giving up seven hits, seven runs (six earned) and one walk. He also struck out six. He threw 65 pitches, 46 of which were strikes.

Verlander is working back from a shoulder issue that set him back at the start of spring training and put him two weeks behind the rest of the rotation.