Cy Young Award contender lands on injured list with calf injury
Justin Verlander leads all of MLB in ERA, WHIP, and wins and will be out for some time
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Houston Astros are losing their ace right as the postseason is just around the corner.
The team announced on Tuesday that Justin Verlander has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a right calf injury.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Justin Verlander of the Astros delivers against the Minnesota Twins at Minute Maid Park on Aug. 23, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Astros' ace was pulled in his last start after three innings after he said he felt a pop in his calf – in his appearance prior, despite throwing six no-hit innings, he was yanked after 91 pitches.
Verlander missed the entire 2021 season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery after he made just one start the season prior, but he has been his vintage self this season. In fact, this season – his 17th – has been his best.
The 39-year-old leads all of baseball with a 1.84 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP, and 16 wins.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Verlander, though, believes he avoided a worst-case scenario.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander reacts after giving up a home run to Tampa Bay Rays' Willy Adames, Oct. 8, 2019, in St. Petersburg, Florida. (AP Photo/Scott Audette)
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"It is an injury. It's not nothing. I went on the IL, so it is disappointing," he said, via the Houston Chronicle, "but on the spectrum of calf injuries go, this is as good of news as I could have gotten."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Astros' general manager James Click echoed Verlander's sentiments, saying they received "relatively good news" on his MRI.
While the severity of the injury is a little grim, the Astros can be cautious with the three-time Cy Young Award winner – they lead the AL West by 11.5 games, and they own the top-seed in the American League by four games over the New York Yankees.
Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws against the Seattle Mariners, July 24, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Because Houston won the season series over the Yanks, they also own the tiebreaker, while the Yankees have been spiraling rapidly, losing 17 of their last 26 games.