Houston Astros All-Star pitcher Justin Verlander went on social media on Sunday to deny reports that he will miss the remainder of the 2020 MLB campaign. The reports about Verlander’s season-ending injury surfaced over the weekend, citing sources close to the club.
Verlander felt pain in his arm on Friday during a win against Seattle Mariners and underwent an MRI the following day. He was diagnosed with a “forearm strain,” and the team’s manager Dusty Baker later told reporters that the 37-year-old ace will be out for “a couple of weeks.”
Shortly after, Houston Chronicle reported that Verlander’s injury is much more severe than the Astros want to reveal. According to the media outlet, “two people with knowledge of the situation” told them that the right-hander is done for the season.
Now, Verlander decided to refute these claims, writing on Twitter that he’s “hopeful that with some rest it will heal” and will “be able to return soon.”
Missing Justin Verlander would be a tough blow for Astros’ title hopes this season. Verlander was the team’s best player in 2019, leading the league with 21 wins and striking out 300 batters while winning the Cy Young Award.
Houston was already thin with pitching staff before Verlander’s injury, missing injured Brad Peacock and Austin Pruitt. The organization is now expected to heavily rely on Zack Greinke, Lance McCullers, and Josh James as the main part of their rotation.
