Astros ace Verlander pulled early with triceps soreness

By: Bill Whitehead, The Associated Press Posted: 4:55 PM CDT Sunday, Mar. 8, 2020 Last Modified: 4:55 PM CDT Sunday, Mar. 8, 2020

Advertise with us

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander felt soreness in his triceps and made an early exit from an exhibition start Sunday, and the AL Cy Young Award winner was headed for more tests.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/03/2020 (2208 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander felt soreness in his triceps and made an early exit from an exhibition start Sunday, and the AL Cy Young Award winner was headed for more tests.

Verlander was set to pitch four innings against the New York Mets. But with his velocity down from his previous start, Verlander was pulled after two scoreless innings.

“It’s some tricep soreness, so we took him out as a precaution,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said.

Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Jupiter, Fla. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

“We’re going to send him to go get some tests run and make sure it’s nothing. We’ve got to take care of the big horse,” he said.

The 37-year-old Verlander was slowed by a groin injury earlier in spring training.

The right-hander threw over 50 pitches in 2 2/3 innings against St. Louis on Tuesday. He didn’t reach 30 pitches against the Mets, allowing three hits without a run while striking out one and walking none.

Verlander was dominant last year, going 21-6 for the Astros and leading the majors in wins, opponents’ batting average (.172), WHIP (0.80) and innings pitched (223). He also tossed his third career no-hitter while striking out a career-high 300 and posting a 2.58 ERA.

Verlander then started six times in the post-season, going 1-4 and pitching 35 1/3 innings. The Astros lost the World Series in seven games to Washington.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports