The Astros scratched veteran ace Justin Verlander from his start against the Tigers earlier today due to discomfort in his neck. Right-hander Spencer Arrighetti stepped in to make a spot start in Verlander’s stead, but was shelled for seven runs in just 1 1/3 innings of work before he was removed in the second inning.
Verlander spoke to reporters (including The Athletic’s Chandler Rome) prior to the game this afternoon and indicated that his neck has been bothering him for “a couple of weeks” but that he’s attempted to pitch through it to this point. The pain caused him to cut his usual bullpen between starts short earlier this week, but both Verlander and manager Joe Espada indicated that the issue likely won’t result in a trip to the injured list. As Rome notes, the club has three scheduled days off in the next two weeks that will offer the club the ability to be more flexible regarding Verlander’s schedule in the short term.
That being said, the possibility of Verlander missing time is surely a concerning one for the Astros. After all, the club recently lost both Jose Urquidy and Cristian Javier for the season due to Tommy John surgery, and both Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. have spent the entire season on the IL to this point. Neither Garcia nor McCullers are expected back until after the All Star break as things stand; Garcia appears to be closer to a return after throwing a live batting practice last week (per MLB.com’s Injury Tracker) while McCullers threw a 30-pitch bullpen session yesterday. Garcia is expected to begin a rehab assignment after “two or three” more live batting practice sessions, while McCullers appears to be “on schedule” for a return sometime in August.
With both Garcia and McCullers more than a month away from contributing, the Astros are limited in terms of internal pitching depth behind their current rotation of Verlander, Framber Valdez, Ronel Blanco, Hunter Brown, and Spencer Arrighetti. J.P. France and Blair Henley are both in the minors on the 40-man roster, but France last pitched on April 30 due to a shoulder injury while Henley allowed five runs in his lone big league start earlier this year while recording just one out. Right-hander Eric Lauer is pitching at Triple-A while on a minor league deal with the club and seems likely to be the top non-roster depth option available to the Astros, although he struggled to a 6.56 ERA in 46 2/3 innings of work with the Brewers last year and has posted similar numbers at Triple-A with the Pirates and Astros this season.
In other injury news, MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart provided an update regarding the status of outfielder Kyle Tucker earlier today. Tucker has been on the injured list for just over a week due to a right shin contusion after fouling a ball off of his leg, and McTaggart noted today that Tucker is no longer relying on crutches while moving around the dugout and clubhouse. While that’s certainly a good sign, McTaggart also noted that the soreness hasn’t completely dissipated for Tucker, who is still walking with a limp. According to manager Joe Espada (as relayed by McTaggart), Tucker may end up needing to go on a minor league rehab assignment before he returns if he can’t begin running “in the next day or two.”
A lengthier absence for Tucker would be an unfortunate turn of events for the Astros, as the 27-year-old was on an MVP-caliber pace at the time of his injury. In 60 games with Houston this year, Tucker has slashed a fantastic .266/.395/.584 in 262 trips to the plate while clubbing 19 home runs and stealing 10 bases. That’s good for a fantastic 176 wRC+ even in spite of the slump Tucker fell into in the weeks immediately prior to his injury, where he hit just .150/.255/.300 in his final 47 trips to the plate before landing on the IL. Trey Cabbage and Chas McCormick have split time in right field while Tucker has been on the shelf, with Yordan Alvarez and Mauricio Dubon handling left.
towinagain
Make a trade with the Padres.
Edp007
Retool for next year. Pitchers come back healthy next year. Stros will be a force next year. It’s just one of those seasons.
Lots of talent
User 4245925809
Is that u Joe? Have u taken ur adderall today?
For Love of the Game
I’ll have what Ed’s drinking! Urquidy and Javier will miss most of 2025, and Verlander isn’t getting any younger. They probably won’t be able to retain Bregman. Read MLBTR’s recent report on the ‘Stros for a sobering view. But you’ll always have 2022 (and 2017*).
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Let’s assume astros don’t crack .500 and miss the playoffs without selling at the deadline, then in 2025 they have a bad rotation and potential aging altuve
Astros 2026 world champions? I’m joking I think their core can’t win another even with the young guys
ChuckyNJ
Astros can never be “world champions” of anything other than Murica, F@&k Yeah!
Scrap Iron
@sad you are absolutely correct, and my fellow Astros fans are very delusional if they think otherwise. They need to trade Tucker, Bregman, and Verlander, and start to retool. If they don’t, they will be in a rebuild mode within two years.
Edp007
Ok retool for 2026 :). Was under mistaken impression pitching be back early 2024.
Melchez17
Arrighetti gave up 7 runs in less than 2 innings against the Tigers? He should consider selling real estate. The Detroit Tigers?
Motor City Beach Bum
Bad Melchez, bad. Be happy they s ored some runs 😉
While the Tigers are in Houston they should get Verlander and Bregman to cross the field. Flip Madden and some more pitching their way. Time to add a bat and test driving Bregman with an eye to signing him in the offeseaon seems like a smart play. Verlander back in Detroit to end his career just seems right. Maeda can be the long man in the bullpen. Cut McKinistry and let Urshela be the super-sub. Jung or Keith can be part of the 1B mix in the short term.
Scrap Iron
I’m down with that trade.
metfan57
Perfect time to sign Trevor Bauer
lesterdnightfly
Perfect time to be realistic and ignore Bauer permanently.
Scrap Iron
Careful, you will trigger the high-and-mighty crowd. You know…the ones with highly questionable browser histories.
SewaldSwansonSwoon
Careful, you’ll trigger the gutless woman-beater crowd that worships Trashy Trev with lotion by their bedside just waiting for a mention of him.
brodie-bruce
@swoon
As much as I dislike Trevor for being a bell end, unfortunately we can’t call him a woman-beater because he was never charged with anything and some of the women involved in this have some questions in there stories.
alumofuf
I hope they become buyers and use what little they have in the minors to get the players. Their highest prospect at AAA is #17 so that means their farm system is in shambles. Also, they have to go for it because they have spent money in wrong places. 85M for a closer! Lol. They DFA a player and they still owe him 51M and he is gone. Hard times are coming and attendance is going to drop.
SewaldSwansonSwoon
So empty the cupboard… that’s your plan? They aren’t winning this year.
Doron
It is highly unlikely that Justin Verlander pitches enough to trigger his 2025 option.
Steve Cohen is happy, more money for his pursuit of Soto just opened up.
raisinsss
What? He’s on pace for 132 innings.
Option triggers at 140.
Where are you getting “highly unlikely?”
astros_fan_84
You can’t trade picks in baseball
SewaldSwansonSwoon
You can trade competitive balance round picks.
astros_fan_84
If they aren’t in it by the deadline, I’d like to see a full firesale. There are so many buyers, it will be a sellers market. I have no problem with a three year rebuild.
The Astros biggest problem is the farm. There is nothing to get excited about and I’m not convinced Dana Brown is anything special.
YankeesBleacherCreature
As long as you have Jim Crane meddling with front office decisions, it won’t matter much who is the GM.
letsplaytwo
Crane AND Bagwell, right?
Acoss1331
Time to restock the farm. Astros can get value back by trading Bregman, Verlander and Tucker. Get prospects, develop them and prepare to compete again in 2026 at the earliest. Heck, if McCullers shows any sign of being healthy if he does cone back this year, trade him in the offseason.
bonhoeffer
Tucker being out of the lineup for a contusion this long is ridiculous. The same goes for Verlander’s “neck” sprain. Because these guys are worth so much money we baby them to death. Heck, my little league team had bigger injuries than this and were ready to go the very next game. We need to stop pandering them while they get a free ride during this time and get them back on the field where they can earn their money.