Justin Verlander missed nearly two months this summer due to a neck injury. Following a challenging start in Houston’s 9-7 victory over the Angels, the 41-year-old right-hander admitted he should have allowed himself more time to heal.
“I think I came back from the neck injury a bit too quickly,” he said. “I’m aware of the schedule and want to contribute to the team, but to do that, I need to pitch effectively and assess my performance. Clearly, the results haven’t been favorable, but all I can do is keep trying.”
Verlander allowed eight hits and six runs in just 4²/₃ innings during his latest outing. This marks the third time in four starts that the three-time Cy Young Award winner has given up at least eight hits and five runs. His recent struggles have led to speculation about his spot on the playoff roster for the AL West leaders, who saw their magic number drop to four with Friday’s win.
When asked if Verlander could still contribute in the postseason, manager Joe Espada sidestepped the question. “I’ve talked to you guys every single day,” he said. “I’m not going to discuss playoff implications. Our focus is on reaching the playoffs and putting our players in the best position to succeed.”
Verlander was placed on the injured list on June 15 and returned on August 21. Since his comeback, he has won only one of six starts and has not pitched more than five innings in any of them. “I haven’t been good since I’ve been back, so it’s tough,” he acknowledged. “But I’ve faced challenges before and just need to find a way to work through it.”
As he left the mound on Friday night during his final home start of the regular season, Verlander received a warm ovation. “These fans know the game,” he said. “They see me out there giving my all. I’ve worked incredibly hard to bounce back from the injury, and it really meant a lot to receive that support after such a tough day.”
In his 20th MLB season, Verlander described this period as one of the most challenging of his distinguished career, currently holding a 4-6 record with a 5.55 ERA over 16 starts this year.
“Every time I pitch, I feel like I’m getting closer to where I want to be,” Verlander said. “But it’s just not consistent. You can see that in the results.
At this level, the margin for error is so small. The first couple of innings today felt right, like what I’ve been searching for, but it went downhill after that.”
When asked about the possibility of being left off the playoff roster, he noted that it’s “not my decision,” but admitted he might have rushed back to help the team as October approaches.
“I see the calendar and know what time of year it is,” he explained. “That’s why I had to come back and try to figure things out.
Sitting around to give myself more time wasn’t an option. It’s been tough and a hard lesson, but I don’t regret it. I want to be there for my teammates.”
