Houston Astros GM Dana Brown addressed Justin Verlander’s absence from the team’s Wild Card roster, explaining that the veteran pitcher handled the news professionally.
Verlander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, missed part of the 2024 season due to shoulder and neck injuries.
Brown noted that while Verlander, 41, has been in the game a long time and always puts the team’s needs first, the conversation with manager Joe Espada went well.
Espada echoed these sentiments, saying that Verlander understood the strong performances of the team’s younger pitchers and knew where he stood.
Meanwhile, the Astros will have slugger Yordan Alvarez in the lineup for the postseason, despite his sprained right knee.
Espada noted that although Alvarez isn’t at full strength, his performance at 70-80 percent is still better than many other players.
Alvarez, a three-time All-Star, wrapped up the regular season with impressive numbers, including a .308 batting average, 35 home runs, and a solid track record in postseason play.
