PLEASE, NO!
Latest news on Justin Verlander goes from bad to worse for Astros
Jun 18, 2024, 4:09 pm
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
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.