CHICAGO — Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander went on the 15-day injured checklist on Tuesday to provide him extra time to resolve his lingering neck discomfort.
The 41-year-old Verlander was scratched from Saturday’s begin in opposition to the Detroit Tigers. The three-time AL Cy Younger Award winner additionally missed the beginning of the season attributable to irritation in his proper shoulder.
Verlander had been making an attempt to pitch by means of the neck subject, however it wasn’t getting any higher.
“He simply wasn’t feeling effectively sufficient to begin enjoying catch,” supervisor Joe Espada mentioned earlier than Houston’s 2-0 loss on the Chicago White Sox. “So he simply wants some extra time to recover from this.”
Espada mentioned there was no additional testing deliberate for Verlander.
“We’re simply going to provide him a while with no throw and see if we will get a few of that neck discomfort (and) stiffness out of there earlier than he begins throwing once more,” Espada mentioned.
Houston has been hit arduous by accidents, particularly on the pitching facet. Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy every had Tommy John surgical procedure this month. Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia may return after the All-Star break after lacking the beginning of the season as a part of the restoration course of from main operations.
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Verlander is 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 10 begins this season. Espada mentioned a timeline for Verlander’s return will depend on his restoration.
“Positively will miss a begin, however we’ll see how lengthy it could take to get him again on the mound,” he mentioned.
Espada mentioned he wasn’t able to announce a starter for Thursday’s sport in opposition to the White Sox. Spencer Arrighetti, who subbed for Verlander on Saturday, is one doable possibility.
Proper-hander Nick Hernandez was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to interchange Verlander on the roster.
Houston additionally was with out sluggers Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker for the opener of its three-game set at Chicago.
Alvarez was coping with a household matter, Espada mentioned, however may very well be again within the lineup as quickly as Wednesday. Alvarez is batting .290 with 14 homers and 37 RBIs in 71 video games this season.
Tucker, who leads the Astros with 19 homers, is on the 10-day IL with a bruised proper shin.
“He is doing higher. Simply slower than we have been anticipating,” Espada mentioned. “We have been anticipating him by in the present day simply sort of begin working round and shifting round. He is doing a few of that, however within the weight room.”