Houston Astros veteran pitcher Justin Verlander was pulled from Saturday’s game against the Detroit Tigers due to neck discomfort. The issue has been affecting him for a few weeks now, and he had to cut a bullpen session short earlier in the week because of it. Despite trying to pitch through the pain, the team decided it was best for him to take a break and skip a start to address the problem.
In Verlander’s absence, Spencer Arrighetti got the start on the mound in the game against the Tigers. Manager Joe Espada explained that they hope Verlander’s neck issue is only temporary and that he won’t need to go on the injured list. Verlander, who spent 12 years with the Tigers at the start of his career, expressed optimism about his recovery but acknowledged the importance of taking things day by day.
With a 3.95 ERA and a 3-2 record in 10 starts this season, Verlander has been a key player for the Astros. However, his recent struggles with his neck have impacted his performance on the field. The Astros faced the Tigers with a 32-38 record going into the weekend series and had lost three of their last five games.
Looking ahead, it remains unclear who will replace Arrighetti on Sunday as the Astros wrap up their series with
