Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander suffers forearm strain

The Houston Astros have suffered a major blow to the rotation, and playoff aspirations, with the injury to Justin Verlander.

Multiple sources are reporting that Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander will be re-evaluated at a later date with a forearm strain, after first reporting that he was out for the season with an elbow injury. The Houston Chronicle first broke the story on July 26.

The news on Verlander, the 2019 American League Cy Young Award winner, came a surprise. On Opening Day July 24, Verlander notched his first win of the 2020 season when he gave up three hits in a six-inning, 73-pitch performance in an 8-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park in Houston. He struck out seven.

The only runs he yielded were solo home runs by the Mariners’ Kyle Lewis and Kyle Seager. In the postgame press conference, Verlander made no mention of any discomfort in his forearm or any other areas including his repaired groin.

In March, Verlander underwent groin surgery, described a “precautionary measure,” and experienced some tightness during baseball’s spring training shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Astros starting staff was already depleted when 2019 Cy Young Award runner-up Gerrit Cole opted for free agency and signed with the New York Yankees in the offseason.

Last season, Verlander was 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA and 300 strikeouts. He led the league in wins, starts (34), innings pitched (223) and a WHIP of 0.803.

He also won the Cy Young Award in 2011, with a league-bests in wins (24), a 2.58 ERA, 250 strikeouts, 251 innings pitched and a 0.922 WHIP as a member of the Detroit Tigers.

Verlander was due to make $33 million in 2020, prorated because of the shortened 60-game season. He is signed through the end of the 2021 season.

The Astros acquired Verlander from the Tigers for Daz Cameron, Franklin Perez, and Jake Rogers at the trading deadline on Aug. 31, 2017. The Astros also received a player to be named later (minor leaguer Juan Ramirez) and cash.

Any time without Justin Verlander could save as a major blow to the Astros 2020 chances to repeat as AL West champions for the fifth consecutive year and defend the American League Championship. The improved Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Angels are waiting to seize any opportunity within the division.

On July 23, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the 2020 postseason would be expanded to 16 teams, which will give teams facing player injuries, like the Astros, an opportunity to continue to play when the regular season ends.