Justin Verlander Says Houston Astros Are Going to Have to 'Fight for It'

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander had his first press conference as a member of the team on Thursday at Yankee Stadium. Amid the reunion with former teammates, there’s a new realization as the season hits the home stretch.

If the Astros are to win the American League West, it won’t be a cake walk.

“I think it’s pretty clear we’re going to have to fight for it,” Verlander told reporters.

The race is unquestionably tight in the American League West, where the Astros have overcome injuries to their pitching staff, along with hitters Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve, to cut into the Rangers’ lead.

The Astros enter Friday’s game with the New York Yankees 1.5 games back of the Rangers, who are hosting the Miami Marlins this weekend.

Verlander will start on Saturday and José Urquidy — coming back from a three-month stint on the injured list — is expected to start on Sunday.

The Astros haven’t gotten over the crest yet. The Rangers have led the division since Opening Day and shared that lead with the Los Angeles Angels for one day back in April.

But it isn’t like the Astros — who would have one of the AL Wild Card berths if the season ended today — and Rangers have the race to themselves.

Those Angels were one of the busiest teams at the trade deadline, fortifying themselves around Shohei Ohtani to try and make a run for the playoffs. The Angels are seven games back and 3.5 games out of the final Wild Card berth.

But the Angels are in fourth place. The Seattle Mariners — who generally stood pat at the deadline — are just 6.5 games back of the lead and three games back of the final Wild Card berth.

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