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The Houston Astros starting rotation is set to get a major boost with a long-awaited return.
Per ESPN, Astros ace Justin Verlander is scheduled to be removed from the injured list after recovering from a neck injury and start the finale of a three-game set against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. It will mark his first start since June 9.
Verlander was placed on IL after experiencing stiffness in his neck. It was his second stint on the injured list this season after he opened the year on the shelf due to right shoulder inflammation. In 10 starts, the 41-year-old went 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA and 51 strikeouts.
“It’s big getting JV on the mound. It’s getting one of the best back in there,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “We know what he means. We know he’s part of this winning culture and getting him back is a big boost for our team, especially down the stretch.”
Verlander made two rehab starts in the minor leagues, most recently throwing 57 pitches in four innings for Double-A Corpus Christi on Thursday. Espada addressed whether he will be on a pitch count on Wednesday since his last rehab outing was so short.
“We’ll see how the outing goes and how efficient he is,” Espada said. “I don’t want to put a number because he can surprise us. But we’re going to keep a close eye on his workload for sure.”
Getting Verlander back comes at a crucial time for Houston, which has embarked on a stretch of 18 straight days without an off day. Espada said the team will use at least a six-man rotation to make it through that.
The Astros (67-56) have won 10 of their last 11 games entering Monday’s matchup against the Red Sox and lead the AL West by four games.