SEATTLE (AP) — Houston Astros’ ace Justin Verlander is set to throw another bullpen session on Saturday as he works his way back from neck discomfort that has sidelined him for a month. Verlander, a three-time Cy Young winner, has been out since June 9 and is expected to throw around 25 pitches before the second game of the Astros’ series against the Seattle Mariners.
Manager Joe Espada expressed optimism about Verlander’s progress, noting that the veteran right-hander threw all his pitches in his last session and is now aiming to increase the intensity. Verlander has a 3-2 record with a 3.95 ERA in 10 starts this season, having missed the first 20 games due to shoulder inflammation.
Luis Garcia is also making strides in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Despite missing a scheduled bullpen session last week, Espada doesn’t view it as a setback. Garcia had surgery in May 2023 and continues to work towards his return.
Outfielder Kyle Tucker is showing progress in recovering from a right shin contusion but still needs to improve his running ability. Tucker has been on the injured list since June 4 and has been participating in hitting and field drills but has yet to resume full base-running activities.
In other injury news, catcher Victor Caratini has been transferred to Double-A Corpus Christi as part of his rehab from a hip flexor strain and could rejoin the Astros next week. Additionally, Lance McCullers Jr. received a second opinion on his right elbow, revealing no structural damage, though he has not yet been cleared to start throwing.
With these key players making significant progress, the Astros are hopeful for a strong second half of the season.
