Houston Astros Ace Had Injury 'Hiccup' Heading Into Spring Training
Pitchers and catchers reported for the Houston Astros, an exciting time for the fans and players. This season, the hope is that the Astros can return to the World Series and add another ring to their collection.
For Houston to complete that task, they'll have to continue being one of the best teams in baseball. The roster has more than enough to get the job done with Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez, Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, and many others.
This is a star-studded team, and depending on health, could be the best in baseball.
Unfortunately, it sounds like Verlander is dealing with a shoulder injury and is behind schedule.
"I'm a little bit behind schedule right now. Had a little hiccup early on that's resolved itself."
If it's as simple as a hiccup for Verlander, there shouldn't be much concern. However, at 40 years old, any sign of an injury isn't a good one for the three-time Cy Young Award winner.
He's dealt with injuries in the past and has bounced back each time. In the 2023 season, he posted a 3.31 ERA in 11 starts after being traded back to the franchise from the New York Mets.
As the Astros approach the season, having Verlander healthy is the biggest priority.
If he has to miss time during the regular season, that's not the end of the world, either. The focus is on him being ready for the playoffs and having him available in October.
Houston's rotation is already dealing with injuries to Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia, so this is less than ideal at this point in Spring Training.
