Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander, who strained his right forearm in the season opener, pitched again even though he still hasn’t gotten on the mound.
Astros manager Dusty Baker reported Tuesday that Verlander has already started pitching for the first time since he was put on the disabled list.
According to Astros pitching coach Brent Storm, Verlander’s work was positive in all respects.
“He did very well,” Storm said of Verlander. I’m not sure of the intensity. I suppose it was the beginning of the way back, but all the reports on how he felt afterwards were positive.
Verlander worked six solid innings on July 24 against the Mariners to start the season, but was out of action due to a strained forearm.
Two days later, the serpentineer denied with a message on Twitter a report in the local newspaper, the “Houston Chronicle”, in which it was anticipated that Verlander would miss the rest of the year.
In 2019, the 36-year-old Verlander had one of the best seasons of his career, going 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA in 34 starts on the road to claiming his third American League Cy Young Award.
After completing 223 innings of work on the mound during the 2019 season, Verlander struck out 300 batters and had a WHIP of just 0.80, earning him the Cy Young Award.
Verlander’s great work allowed the Astros to return to the World Series for the second time in the past three seasons, after winning his first “Fall Classic” title in 2017. EFE (HN)