Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander has been sent on a rehab assignment and is set to start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday.
Verlander, who has been on the injured list with a neck strain, hasn’t played since June 9, when he allowed four runs on seven hits over five innings in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels.
This season, Verlander holds a 3-2 record with a 3.95 ERA across 10 starts. His first start of the year didn’t come until April 19 due to shoulder inflammation.
The 41-year-old, a three-time American League Cy Young Award winner and 2011 AL MVP, boasts a 260-143 record with a 3.25 ERA over 519 career starts. He also played a key role in the Astros’ World Series titles in 2017 and 2022.
Reports suggest that Verlander could return to the major league roster during the Aug. 22-25 four-game road series against the Baltimore Orioles.