Houston Astros Ace Faces Next Step in Injury Rehab

The Houston Astros are eager to get Justin Verlander back in the rotation and the next step in his injury rehab could get him one step closer.

Mar 28, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) waves | Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Monday will mark a significant benchmark for Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander in his return from a shoulder injury.

Before Monday’s game with the Toronto Blue Jays the 41-year-old right-hander will throw a simulated game, per MLB.com.

The sim game is designed to get Verlander about 50 pitches, or about three innings of work. Assuming all goes well with the simulated game, that would be his last step before he leaves Houston for a rehab assignment, most likely at nearby Triple-A Sugar Land, which opened its season on Friday. Double-A Corpus Christi opens its season on Thursday.

Verlander started the season on the injured list after he came to spring training about two weeks behind schedule due to the shoulder issue. The Astros opted to slowly with Verlander, who is under contract for 2024 and could be under contract in 2025, depending upon a vesting option in the deal he signed with the Mets before the 2023 season.

The three-time Cy Young winner and two-time world champion has thrown bullpens throughout the spring, including a two-inning live batting practice session last week.

Verlander started last season with the Mets on the injured list with a low-grade teres major strain.

Once he returned to the Mets, he started to regain his form before the Mets fell out of the playoff race and decided to trade its veteran pitching, starting with reliever David Robertson to the Miami Marlins and then Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers.

Verlander was the final piece traded by the Mets, as they shipped him back to the Astros at the deadline for two outfield prospects — Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford.

While Verlander was 13-8 overall, he was 7-3 with a 3.31 ERA with the Astros. He posted his numbers in 27 starts as the start of his season was delayed due to injury.

Verlander was coming off a 2022 in which helped the Astros win their second World Series as he went 18-4 with an MLB-leading 1.75 ERA. His 18 wins led the American League and he won the AL Cy Young.