Houston ace Verlander to make minor league rehab start Sunday

FILE - Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander (35) warms up as head athletic trainer Jeremiah Randall observes during spring training baseball workouts, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. There is a bridge that runs from Tommy John and Dr. Frank Jobe in 1974, all the way to Shohei Ohtani, Justin Verlander and Bryce Harper. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via AP, File) (Karen Warren, © 2024 Karen Warren / Staff photographer)

HOUSTON – Houston ace Justin Verlander is scheduled to make his first rehabilitation start at Triple-A Sugar Land Sunday.

The 41-year-old Verlander, who opened the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder, will throw a bullpen session Thursday in Houston before making his start this weekend.

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Manager Joe Espada said he expects this to be the first of two minor league starts Verlander will make before he comes off the injured list.

“Just based on what I’ve seen and out of his live BPs and how he’s talking about how he feels, I think two starts... should be good enough,” Espada said.

Espada said they want Verlander to throw 70-75 pitches on Sunday and get up 85-90 in the following start.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner is in his second stint in Houston after rejoining the team in a trade with the New York Mets in July.

He went 13-8 with a 3.22 ERA in 27 starts for the Mets and Astros last season.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB


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