Houston Astros Set Injury Rehab Start For Staff Ace
The Houston Astros are now set to send injured staff ace Justin Verlander on an injury rehab assignment on Sunday at one of their minor league affiliates, according to multiple reports, including MLB.com.
Verlander will head to Triple-A Sugar Land, which is near Houston, to make a start on Sunday against the Las Vegas Aviators. It’s the final game of their series before the Space Cowboys take a day off on Monday to travel to Albuquerque.
The 41-year-old will throw 70 to 75 pitches in Sunday’s start and will reportedly need one more start before the Astros will determine when to activate him from the 15-day injured list.
Where Verlander would make that second start is unclear, as both the Space Cowboys and the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks will be on the road next week.
While Sugar Land is in Albuquerque, Corpus Christi will be in Frisco to face the RoughRiders.
The Astros’ travel schedule may influence where Verlander goes for his second rehab game. The Astros arrive in Arlington on Thursday and begin a four-game series with the Texas Rangers on Friday. After the conclusion of that series on Monday, the Astros then head to Kansas City for a three-game series that ends April 11.
The Astros then return home to host the Rangers that weekend, followed by a home series with the Atlanta Braves.
The Astros could reduce Verlander’s travel by sending him with the Hooks.
It’s all good news for Verlander, who arrived at spring training in February with a shoulder problem, which put him two weeks behind the rest of the pitching staff.
In just the last seven days he has thrown a bullpen and a three-inning simulated game.
Last season 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. The Astros re-acquired him from the Mets at last season’s trade deadline for two outfield prospects — Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford.
MATTHEW POSTINS
Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros for Sports Illustrated/FanNation. He also covers he Big 12 for Heartland College Sports.