Despite not having made an appearance in the MLB in 2024 due to a shoulder injury, Justin Verlander is set to start on Friday against the Washington Nationals, as confirmed by Houston Astros manager Joe Espada.
Manager Joe Espada informed reporters on Wednesday that the Houston Astros are set to bring starting pitcher Justin Verlander back from the 15-day injured list this Friday. Verlander, who has been grappling with a shoulder injury since the offseason, has not played in the MLB in 2024. He is scheduled to make his first appearance of the season against the Washington Nationals on the road this Friday.
Despite not participating in any Grapefruit League games during Spring Training, the 41-year-old right-handed pitcher has been actively engaged in bullpen sessions and mound work since mid-February. On April 1, he completed a 52-pitch simulated game before embarking on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land.
During his minor league rehab assignments, Verlander’s performance was not remarkable, with 11 earned runs and 13 total runs allowed in 7.0 innings. Nevertheless, the Astros are sticking to their plan and reinstating him as scheduled.Verlander is still a formidable force in the league, having won his third AL Cy Young Award and second World Series ring just two years ago.
In the 2023 season, he made 27 starts for the Astros and New York Mets, going 13-8 with a 3.22 ERA, 1.133 WHIP, 144 strikeouts, and a 3.5 WAR.Despite making only one start in 2020 and missing the entire 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery, Verlander’s impressive track record is not surprising.
Verlander has a remarkable career record of 257-141 with a 3.24 ERA, 1.118 WHIP, 3,342 strikeouts, and a 80.9 WAR, making him a future Hall of Famer. He is currently earning $43.3 million this season, which is tied for the highest salary in baseball, with the New York Mets covering a significant portion of it.
If Verlander throws 140.0 innings this year, he will be due another $35 million in 2025, half of which will be paid by New York. The Astros will face the Atlanta Braves for the final game of their series on Wednesday, followed by a day off on Thursday. Verlander is scheduled to pitch in the series opener against the Washington Nationals on Friday at 6:45 p.m. ET.
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