Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander made his return to the mound against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. The 41-year-old looked sharp on the mound considering he has been sidelined the last two and a half months due to a neck issue. Verlander struck out six batters while allowing four hits and two runs over six innings of work. That is an extremely nice outing for a pitcher that hasn't thrown in a big league game since early June. The right-hander still appears to have something left in the tank. He'll take a 3.92 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 57/18 K/BB ratio into his next matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies. Fantasy managers looking for pitching help should check to see if Verlander is available.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (neck) is currently scheduled to take the ball against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. The 41-year-old has been sidelined since mid-June due to a neck issue. Verlander looked good during his most recent rehab start at Double-A Corpus Christi on Thursday. It sounds like Verlander is ready to return after his bullpen session on Sunday went well. He holds a 3.95 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, with 51 strikeouts across 10 starts this season. Verlander isn't the same pitcher he once was, but he should still be an asset in most fantasy formats.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (neck) will make his next rehab assignment start later this week either at Triple-A Sugar Land or Double-A Corpus Christi. Verlander threw 52 pitches over three innings in a start for Sugar Land against El Paso on Saturday. The veteran right-hander allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out three. "He bounced back well," manager Joe Espada said. If all goes well in his next minor-league rehab appearance, Verlander should be able to rejoin Houston's rotation by the middle of next week. Before going on the injured list due to neck stiffness, he went 3-2 with a respectable 3.95 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 51 strikeouts and 17 walks in 10 starts (57 innings) for the Astros in 2024.

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (neck) will make a minor-league rehab start at Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday at Constellation Field. Verlander is set to start his rehab assignment after throwing a 37-pitch, two-inning simulated game on Sunday and a successful bullpen session on Wednesday. Because he's been on the injured list since the middle of June, the 41-year-old future Hall of Fame will likely require more than one rehab start to build up his arm after recovering from a neck injury. But barring a setback in the minors, Verlander should be ready to rejoin Houston's starting rotation before the end of August. The three-time Cy Young winner no longer has a strikeout rate above 30% like he did in his prime, but he can still be dominant at times in the right matchups. Before hurting his neck, he had gone 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 10 starts (57 innings).

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (neck) will throw one final bullpen session ahead of Wednesday's game against the division-rival Texas Rangers. If all goes well, he will have a minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land at some point this weekend. Verlander threw 37 pitches in two simulated innings on Sunday morning, and he will likely need two rehab outings before rejoining Houston's rotation. Fantasy managers can expect to get the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer back in the mix sometime in the middle of August. Before going on the shelf due to neck stiffness, Verlander went 3-2 with a serviceable 3.95 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 51 strikeouts and 17 walks in 10 starts (57 innings) for the Astros in 2024.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (neck) will throw a live bullpen session prior to Sunday's game against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays before heading out on a minor-league assignment. He faced hitters on the main mound at Minute Maid Park ahead of Wednesday's contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates and threw close to 30 pitches. There was some hope that Verlander could return to Houston's rotation without needing action in the minors as he ramped up in his throwing progression, but fantasy managers will likely have to wait until mid-to-late August before he's available again. The 41-year-old veteran right-hander was placed on the injured list back on June 18 with neck stiffness, going 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 51 strikeouts and 17 walks in 10 starts (57 innings) before suffering the injury. Verlander should remain stashed in all fantasy leagues as an option to help rosters down the stretch.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (neck) will throw on the main mound at Minute Maid Park ahead of Tuesday's game against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. "J.V. will be facing hitters, but the hitters will not swing," manager Joe Espada added. The 41-year-old veteran right-hander threw 50-plus pitches in the bullpen at Minute Maid Park prior to Saturday's game against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, and he appears to be building toward a minor-league rehab assignment in the near future. Verlander went 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 51:17 K:BB in 10 starts before going down with neck stiffness, and he should be back in Houston's rotation sometime in early-to-mid August based on where he's currently at in his throwing progression. Fantasy managers should continue to hold onto the future Hall of Famer.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that right-hander Justin Verlander (neck) will throw a bullpen session on Saturday. Verlander threw a 40-pitch bullpen session last weekend and was scheduled to throw another on Wednesday, so he's clearly getting closer to going out on a minor-league rehab assignment as he attempts to return from a neck ailment that has kept him on the 15-day injured list since June 18. If the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner doesn't suffer a setback on Saturday, he could be cleared to move to a rehab assignment. Verlander is no longer as dominant towards the end of his illustrious career, but he's still useful in the right matchups in most fantasy leagues when he's healthy. He's posted a 21.3% strikeout rate with a 3.95 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 51:17 K:BB in 10 starts (57 innings) for the 'Stros this year.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (neck) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session ahead of Wednesday's game against the division-rival Oakland Athletics. Verlander threw all of his pitches during Saturday's 40-pitch session, and he still has a chance to return to Houston's rotation before the end of July if he's able to dodge going out on a brief minor-league rehab assignment before getting activated from the 15-day injured list. The 41-year-old veteran right-hander went 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 51 strikeouts in 10 starts (57 innings) before heading to the shelf with neck stiffness, and he should be stashed in all fantasy leagues with his return perhaps looming.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (neck) completed a 40 pitch bullpen on Saturday. The bullpen marks progression for the right-hander after he threw a 25 pitch bullpen on Sunday. There's no indication yet whether Verlander will need to throw another bullpen before either starting a rehab assignment or coming back to the Astros' rotation, though it would be unlikely for him to not progress without another bullpen or a rehab assignment. The 41-year-old had posted a 3.95 ERA before dealing with neck discomfort. Fantasy managers should prepare for a return to the majors at some point in August unless the team states otherwise. In the meantime, fantasy managers looking for starting pitching help that weren't able to snag Hunter Brown may want to look at Spencer Arrighetti, who's season-long stats don't reflect the recent improvement (3.68 ERA and 28 K in his last four starts).

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that right-hander Justin Verlander (neck) will throw another bullpen session on Saturday. Verlander used all of his pitches in a 25-pitch bullpen session on Sunday and will have another side session this weekend as he works his way back from a neck issue that landed him on the 15-day injured list in the middle of June. It's unclear if the 41-year-old three-time Cy Young winner will need a short minor-league rehab assignment before returning to Houston's starting rotation, but if he doesn't need one, he'll have a good shot at returning before the calendar flips to August. The future Hall of Famer is no longer an elite fantasy starter, but he still deserves to be rostered in all fantasy leagues and has gone 3-2 with an ERA under 4.00 with a 1.21 WHIP and a 51:17 K:BB in 57 innings over his 10 starts in 2024.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (neck) threw a successful 25-pitch bullpen session on Sunday. The 41-year-old continues to work his way back from a neck issue that has sidelined him for about a month. It sounds like Verlander is making progress, but the Astros are going to continue being cautious with him. He'll still need to do a few rehab outings before rejoining the Astros rotation. The hope is that Verlander can help the Astros over the final few months of the season.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (neck) played catch for a third straight day ahead of Friday's series opener against the division-rival Texas Rangers. Manager Joe Espada is encouraged by Verlander's progress and said the right-hander mentioned throwing from the mound, so that could be something that happens relatively soon. While the 41-year-old former All-Star won't be back with the Astros until sometime after the All-Star break, he appears to be close to taking a significant step forward in his throwing progression on the way back from neck stiffness. Verlander holds a solid 3.95 ERA (4.99 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 51 strikeouts and 17 walks through 57 innings (10 starts) in Houston's rotation in 2024, and he deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues.

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (neck) said he's now throwing more than every other day and is feeling better. However, he did not give a timetable for when he could resume throwing off a mound again. The good news is that Verlander is throwing, but the bad news is he's recovering slowly from a neck issue and probably isn't going to be ready to return to Houston's starting rotation for the start of the second half of the season at this pace. The 41-year-old three-time Cy Young is most likely going to require a minor-league rehab assignment before being reinstated from the injured list in the second half. Rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti's spot in Houston's rotation should be secure for a while with Verlander still sidelined. The future Hall of Famer is no longer a fantasy ace and has only a 21.3% strikeout rate this year, but he should still be stashed in all leagues.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada acknowledged on Thursday that right-hander Justin Verlander (neck) will not return to the team until after the All-Star break in mid-July. Neck soreness landed Verlander on the 15-day injured list in mid-June, and he won't return to the team's starting rotation until the second half of the season. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer has already resumed playing catch, though. Given the fact that Verlander hasn't thrown off a mound in almost a month, fantasy managers will need to expect him to need at least one minor-league rehab start before he returns to Houston's starting rotation. But if he avoids any setbacks, Verlander could be back in the fold before August. The three-time Cy Young winner isn't the dominant pitcher he was in his prime and is currently sorting a 21.3% strikeout rate with a 3.95 ERA (4.98 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP in 57 innings (10 starts).

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (neck), who has been on the injured list since June 16, is playing light catch at a distance of 60 feet. Verlander wasn't with the Astros for their series against the Blue Jays in Toronto, which started on Monday, but returning to light throwing is good news for a club that's been ravaged by pitching injuries during the first half of the season. According to manager Joe Espada, the club isn't ready to put a timetable on Verlander's return to Houston's rotation. With Verlander not making significant progress in his throwing program as he recovers from neck stiffness, fantasy managers should not be anticipating the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer's return coming prior to the All-Star break in mid-July.

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (neck), who is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list on Monday, will not travel with the team to New York on their upcoming road trip that starts on Friday against the Mets, according to manager Joe Espada. Verlander is improving but still hasn't started playing catch. The Astros continue their road trip next week in Toronto and Minnesota, but Verlander is unlikely to pitch in either of those series. And the longer the 41-year-old stays on the injured list, the more likely he'll be required to make a minor-league rehab start before rejoining Houston's rotation. While nothing is official yet, there's a chance we won't see the future Hall of Famer until after the All-Star break in mid-July.

Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander (neck) has yet to resume throwing as he remains on the injured list with neck discomfort. Astros manager Joe Espada said Verlander is progressing slower than the team expected. Espada stressed that soreness in Verlander's neck is keeping him from working his way back to the active roster. Before landing on the injured list on June 18, Verlander was (3-2) with a 3.95 ERA in 57 innings, striking out 51 and walking 17 with a 1.21 WHIP. Verlander is eligible to come off the injured list on Monday, but the Astros could be careful with the veteran and hold him out until the All-Star break. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Verlander on their rosters for now.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander struck out nine batters and picked up the win in Friday's 6-3 victory over the Athletics. The veteran scattered eight hits and hit a batter over six innings of work while walking none. It was the 41-year-old's fourth quality start in seven starts and a nice bounce-back game after giving up four runs in four-and-two-thirds-innings pitched. The righty is now 3-2 on the season and owns a 3.60 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and a 12.6% K-BB%. Verlander gets a mouthwatering matchup with Seattle his next turn through the rotation on Thursday. The Mariners have the fourth-lowest team batting average on the season and have the most strikeouts in the entire league.

Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander was in fine form on Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Tigers. The veteran right-hander tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out eight batters. It was a nice bounce-back performance for Verlander after he surrendered seven runs to the New York Yankees in his previous outing. The 41-year-old now owns a 2-1 record this season to go along with a 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 23:12 K:BB through five starts. Verlander does not possess the same strikeout stuff he once had, but he is still a quality fantasy asset capable of churning out quality starts. He lines up against a surprisingly stout Milwaukee Brewers offense in his next projected start.