The New York Mets have been without reigning American League Cy Young award winner and major offseason acquisition Justin Verlander in the early going.
The veteran right-hander was diagnosed with a low-grade teres major strain in his shoulder just before Opening Day.
It might sound like a long-term or major injury, but the truth is that he should be able to return before the end of the month.
Mets insider Tim Healey offered the most recent update on the right-hander’s health on Tuesday.
“Justin Verlander will go to Port St. Lucie when the Mets go to California this week, Buck Showalter said. The tentative plan includes a minor-league rehab start and Verlander probably not returning to the majors until the Mets return home,” he tweeted.
Justin Verlander will go to Port St. Lucie when the Mets go to California this week, Buck Showalter said.
The tentative plan includes a minor-league rehab start and Verlander probably won’t return to the majors until the Mets return home.
—Tim Healey (@timbhealey) April 11, 2023
Port St. Lucie is where the Mets have their spring training complex.
There, Verlander will continue to test his right arm and build up stamina.
The Mets have two home games left to play with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday and Wednesday.
They will travel to California to face the Oakland Athletics from Friday through Sunday and then the Los Angeles Dodgers from Monday to Wednesday.
Their California road trip will extend throughout the end of next week with a four-game set against the San Francisco Giants from Thursday to Sunday (April 20-23).
Then, they will return home to face the Washington Nationals from April 23 to the 25th.
That’s when Verlander could be in play to return, per Healey, if he manages to avoid setbacks of course.
It sounds like a feasible scenario.
The Mets rotation will soon have its two aces when Verlander joins Max Scherzer at the top of the staff.
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