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The Astros seem like on the cusp of getting Cy Younger frontrunner Justin Verlander again. Supervisor Dusty Baker tells reporters that whereas nothing is finalized but, the group’s tentative plan is for Verlander to return on Friday (Twitter link through Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle). Verlander hasn’t pitched since departing his Aug. 29 begin after three innings as a consequence of what would finally be recognized as “fascial disruption” in his calf.
If he certainly returns Friday, it’ll go down as an 18-day absence for Verlander — a near-best case state of affairs for an damage that, as acknowledged by the pitcher himself within the wake of his IL placement, may have sidelined him via a portion of the postseason had it been even marginally extra extreme.
[Related: The Changing Landscape of the American League Cy Young Race]
The 39-year-old Verlander has had nothing in need of a exceptional season in his return from 2020 Tommy John surgical procedure — not solely reestablishing himself as a high-quality starter however resurfacing as a bona fide ace with a reputable probability at his third Cy Younger Award. Lacking even a few begins may show a deciding issue, significantly with Dylan Cease and Alek Manoah surging late within the season, however Verlander’s 1.84 ERA nonetheless tops American League pitchers. He’s now fallen to 18th within the league in innings pitched, nevertheless, narrowing any lead he may need beforehand held over the sphere. He’s additionally returning with no minor league rehab stint, so it’s at the very least potential the ’Stros might be a little bit extra cautious than typical together with his workload in his first outing.
The extent to which Verlander is ready to bounce again from this calf concern might be telling with regard to the Cy Younger race, although the crew focus is definitely simply on having him constructed as much as full energy for his or her now-inevitable postseason run. With 20 video games left to play and a 12.5-game lead within the AL West, Houston hasn’t mathematically clinched the division crown, however that’s a fait accompli at this juncture. The Astros have the most effective report within the American League and the second-best report in baseball, trailing solely the Dodgers, positioning them for a first-round bye on this 12 months’s newly expanded 12-team playoff format.
That can give Houston the luxurious of lining up the rotation nevertheless the crew deems match. Assuming he’s at full energy, Verlander can be the plain option to take the ball in Recreation 1 of the American League Division Sequence, prone to be adopted by lefty Framber Valdez, who figures to get some down-ballot recognition on this 12 months’s Cy Younger voting himself. With Lance McCullers Jr. again on the energetic roster and 25-year-old righties Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia every pitching properly (Javier, particularly) — the Astros are deep in choices for his or her postseason rotation.
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