After a challenging 2024 season filled with injuries, Houston Astros veteran pitcher Justin Verlander will start the postseason on the bench. This season is set to be one of the least statistically impressive of his remarkable career.
According to Chandler Rome from The Athletic, Verlander did not make the Astros’ roster for the AL Wild Card Series against the Detroit Tigers. MLB.com reports that the team includes 11 pitchers and 15 position players, with Verlander assigned to the taxi squad.
“Verlander is a professional,” said general manager Dana Brown. “He has a wealth of experience and ultimately wants what’s best for the team. My conversation with Joe [Espada] went very well.”
Verlander began the season on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. After returning in April, he faced another setback with a neck injury in June, before making his comeback in August. Over the course of the season, he made 17 starts, finishing with a record of 5-6, a 5.48 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, and 74 strikeouts in 90.1 innings.
The 41-year-old acknowledged that he may have rushed back from his neck injury. “I think I came back a bit too soon,” he told ESPN. “I know the schedule and want to help the team, but the results haven’t been great, and all I can do is keep trying to pitch.”
As the Astros embark on their eighth consecutive playoff run, left-hander Framber Valdez will take the mound for Game 1 against the Tigers, marking Houston’s first appearance in the wild-card round since 2020.
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