Astros manager talks leaving Verlander off wild-card roster

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Astros manager explains 'easy conversation' regarding leaving Justin Verlander off wild-card roster

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated Oct 1, 2024 11:54 AM ET

Three-time AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander won't be available for the Houston Astros in their wild-card series against the Detroit Tigers, but it's not due to injury.

The future Hall of Famer was left off the series roster after his uneven 2024 season that saw him finish just 5-6 with a career-worst 5.48 ERA across 90 1/3 innings covering 17 starts. Verlander battled multiple injuries throughout the year to pitch the fewest innings of his career outside of his two-start MLB debut in 2005 and both the 2020 and 2021 campaigns after he underwent Tommy John surgery following one outing in the pandemic-altered season.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada explained that the nine-time All-Star's positive attitude made the decision an easy one.

Espada on Verlander decision:

“It was a very easy conversation. Justin Verlander is a professional and he knows how well our starting pitchers have performed during the season… He is a true pro.”
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) October 1, 2024

Verlander's 2024 season was delayed until April 19 due to a shoulder injury, but he pitched decently over the next two months, starting 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA across his first 10 outings. The 41-year-old went on the injured list again on June 19 due to shoulder inflammation and returned on Aug. 21.

After allowing six runs over 10 innings in his two starts to close August, Verlander looked every bit like a pitcher in his 40s, allowing a whopping 24 runs on 35 hits over 23 1/3 innings pitched in five September starts.

With the Astros looking to make their eighth straight ALDS, they couldn't afford to carry Verlander on their wild-card series roster against the Tigers, despite his unmatched resume.

If Houston advances to the next round, Espada said there's still a chance that Verlander could contribute in the playoffs.

"JV understands how well some of our starters have performed, some of our young guys and ... he threw the ball really well against Cleveland," the manager said, according to an Associated Press and ESPN report. "So, I don't want us to just disregard JV for the rest of the postseason."

Victor Barbosa

Victor Barbosa is a passionate follower of MLB, the NBA and NFL, with a deep interest in Boston-area teams. He graduated from Springfield College -- The Birthplace of Basketball -- in 2013 with a degree in Communications-Sports Journalism. Previous bylines include FanSided, Heavy and Syracuse

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