WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Because he hasn't progressed to the point where he can face hitters in the backfield, Astros pitcher Justin Verlander will have to start the season on the injured list. Manager Joe Espada made the announcement Tuesday after discussing it with Verlander and other team officials.
Verlander reported that he was two weeks late to camp due to a shoulder problem and has been limited to holding regular bullpen sessions in recent weeks. He has yet to face hitters, and with Opening Day less than three weeks away, Verlander has run out of time to fully prepare for the start of the season.
“I'm just trying to trust my body and not rush anything because it's Opening Day on the calendar and I'm just trying to do things right,” he said. “I thought we were close to getting it done, but pace-wise we were really off the pace. I think as soon as we all sat down, the calendar dictated, 'Okay, we have to make a decision.'”
The good news for the Astros is that Verlander has suffered no setbacks and his sentiments remain encouraging. He's particularly encouraged by his bullpen side session on Sunday, in which he threw 60 pitches and walked away feeling great about his progress.
“Do I want to be there on opening day? In any case. Am I frustrated? In any case. Am I upset about how I feel right now? Also yes,” he said. “I'm trying to see the forest through the trees. “Look at the bigger picture and try to be the best pitcher I can be all season long, except for the first week or two.”
Verlander would like to get another bullpen session in before facing hitters for the first time. His next bullpen session is tentatively scheduled for Friday, but his schedule is a moving target.
“I don’t have any of the answers, and the frustrating thing is that no one has the answer,” he said. “It's, 'Okay, when am I going to be healed, when am I going to be healthy again?' I'm currently hovering at 90 percent. I feel like I'm ready to go the extra mile. Does it take a little longer to get from 90 percent to 100 percent, or is it like, “All right, I’m fine”? I don't know. I have to keep building, and I think we'll know when the time is right. Maybe there’s an opportunity to do a follow-up MRI to see what everything looks like, to make sure it’s still as good as it was before.”
Astros general manager Dana Brown remains positive because Verlander looked so strong in his last bullpen session.
“He had the same throwing action with pretty good arm speed, so I wasn’t worried,” he said. “When the throwing actions are different, it's like saying, 'Something's bothering this guy,' and I didn't see that. He had a little bit of a zip on the ball. I think he will gradually start to increase his speed and that will take a little longer.”
Verlander, who was traded back to the Astros from the Mets in August, also experienced a delayed start with the Mets last year as he was placed on the injured list with a right arm injury on the eve of the regular season. He debuted on May 4 and made 16 starts for New York before the Astros acquired him at the trade deadline.
Verlander posted a 7-3 record with a 3.31 ERA in 11 regular-season starts (68 innings) upon his return to Houston and made three postseason starts before the club was eliminated in the ALCS by the Rangers.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner is entering the second season of a two-year contract he signed with the Mets last winter. The contract includes a $35 million vesting option for 2025 that will be triggered if Verlander throws 140 innings this season. The Mets will pay half of the option if it vests.