Latest news on Justin Verlander goes from bad to worse for Astros
PLEASE, NO!
18 June 2024
Justin Verlander is heading to the injured list. Composite Getty Image.
Astros ace Justin Verlander missed his start over the weekend due to neck discomfort, which had many fans concerned. The last Houston pitcher (Cristian Javier) to miss time with the same injury would end up out for the season and having to undergo Tommy John surgery.
Fortunately, it doesn't look like that will be the case for JV, and the team didn't anticipate having to put Verlander on IR. They hoped he would be able to start Thursday's game in Chicago.
But manager Joe Espada told the Astros flagship station on Tuesday that his progress “is slower than we expected.”
Astros manager Joe Espada tells @SportsMT that Justin Verlander’s progress “is slower than we expected.” Thursday’s starter against the White Sox is still TBA.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 18, 2024
Fast-forward a few hours and JV is headed to the IL, with Nick Hernandez joining the club from Sugar Land.
Justin Verlander's 15-day IL stint is retroactive to Sunday. https://t.co/7Ys8eLvl6O
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 18, 2024
Hopefully, this is just a short stint on the injured list for Verlander. Quite frankly, the Astros are running out of big league caliber starting pitching options.
One has to wonder, how many more injuries the team can sustain in 2024? The injury bug is biting hard, and the club is currently nine games behind Seattle in the AL West.
Up next
Framber Valdez takes the mound for Houston against the White Sox on Tuesday night.
The Athletic's Chandler Rome shares some possibilities the Astros might explore to replace Verlander in the post below.
The Astros could start Spencer Arrighetti on full rest Thursday against the White Sox. Blair Henley, who is on the 40-man roster, is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A on Thursday. Astros could call him up for a spot start or turn it into a bullpen game with Contreras/Hernandez
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 18, 2024
It’s starting to look like the Astros knew exactly what they were doing.
What once felt like a risky move is quickly shaping up to be a win for Houston — and maybe a defining pivot point for the franchise. In this episode, we dig into how the Astros may actually be better off in the wake of the Kyle Tucker trade, thanks to a new wave of production and smart roster-building.
Cam Smith continues to rise with another eye-catching performance, launching two home runs and making the case that he’s already ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, Isaac Paredes has quietly emerged as a legitimate successor to Alex Bregman, offering power and presence in the infield.
And while Jeremy Peña wasn’t part of the Tucker deal, his 2024 resurgence adds even more fuel to the argument that this team is thriving — not surviving. The Astros aren’t just plugging holes. They’re planning for what’s next.
We also look at the bigger picture: What if Houston had moved on earlier from other aging or underperforming stars? Could they have been ahead of the curve even sooner?
So who’s really winning this breakup — the Astros or Kyle Tucker? We break it all down.
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