News that ace Justin Verlander will begin the season on the injured list shook up Astros fans this week – but not to worry, it’s just a precautionary timeout, he should miss only a couple of starts and be good to go.

Still Verlander’s shoulder issue does point to an Astros question mark – starting pitching - as they embark on yet another postseason run.

Verlander will join perennial injured list resident Lance McCullers Jr. on the sideline, along with Luis Garcia recovering from Tommy John surgery, and possibly J.P. France out of early action. France, who surprised everybody going 11-6 last year, is working through shoulder discomfort and hasn’t appeared in a game so far this spring training. He did throw one inning of a simulated game against live batters but with no fielders behind him this week. So there is progress.

If all healthy, a rotation of Verlander, McCullers Jr., Garcia and France would be one of the strongest in the American League. Ironic, huh?

General manager Dana Brown insists the team is not looking at adding another starting pitcher, so forget the Astros seeking a trade or making a bid for free agents Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery. The Astros early season rotation shapes up as Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Jose Urquidy with Spencer Arrighetti or Brandon Bielak looking to earn a spot.

Verlander beginning the season on the injured list is not a big deal in the baseball’s long run. Nobody need worry about his physical well being or his credit score. He has a structured settlement with the Astros, but he won’t be calling JG Wentworth at 877-CASH-NOW.

Verlander will be paid $43 million in 2024 (tied for the highest-paid player with his fellow injured list frenemy Max Scherzer), and will earn $35 million for 2025 if he throws 140 innings this season. Remember, Verlander started last year on the injured list, didn’t make his first start until May 4, and still managed to throw 162 innings.

While $43 million for this year and $35 million for 2025 sounds like a piggy bank breaker for the Astros, the Mets will be picking up half of Verlander’s pay both years.

If for some reason Verlander doesn’t reach the 140 inning plateau this season, he will become a free agent for 2025. He could command even more than $35 million then. As Woody would say in Toy Story, that’s not flying, that’s falling with style.

So far in his career, Verlander has banked $350 million over his two decades in the big leagues. Add $43 million for 2024 and possibly $35 million for 2025, and Justin Brooks Verlander will leave the game (whenever that is) as the all-time career earnings champion.

We’re talking money already earned, deposited, and accruing interest. We’re not including long-term contracts still in midstream, like Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal that will be paying him when he’s old and gray, or Mike Trout’s $426 million agreement that has miles to go before he sleeps (poet Robert Frost).

Currently the highest-paid player in baseball history – actual money earned – is Miguel Cabrera at $400.4 million. Alex Rodriguez is second with $399.2 million. Verlander already is third and the motor is still running.