Justin Verlander cannot overcome injury and misses today’s start

Houston Astros veteran right-hander Justin Verlander was ruled out of his start this Saturday against his former team, the Tigers, due to neck discomfort. Rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti was chosen to start in Verlander’s place.

In each of his last two outings, Verlander has gone five innings and allowed four runs on seven hits, including his most recent start Sunday in Anaheim. He is 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 57.0 innings this year.

This is another significant loss for a rotation that has been decimated by injuries. The Astros lost two starters, Cristian Javier and José Urquidy, to Tommy John surgeries earlier this month. Besides Verlander and the other four starters currently in the rotation, the only other healthy starter on the 40-man roster is Blair Henley, who had to make an emergency start in April due to injuries.

The Astros should get Luis Garcia back from the disabled list after the All-Star break, after he had Tommy John surgery last May, and Lance McCullers Jr., who had elbow surgery a year ago. , could return in August.