When is Justin Verlander Coming Back? Fantasy Baseball Injury Return Update

Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander might be the oldest player in the majors at 41 years old, but he can still pitch at a high level. The right-hander finished with a 3.22 ERA and 144 strikeouts across 27 combined starts for the Mets and Astros in 2023.

However, the injuries continue to pile up for Verlander entering his 19th major league season. He is currently on the 15-day injured list after experiencing shoulder inflammation early in spring training.

So, when is Verlander coming back? What is his fantasy baseball outlook? Let's dive in and find out.

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Justin Verlander Injury Update for Fantasy Baseball

Verlander was shut down for most of spring training with a shoulder injury. He didn't throw in any spring training games and, as a result, was placed on the IL to begin the season. Nonetheless, it appears that a return is near for the 41-year-old veteran.

After building up his pitch count over the past couple of weeks, Verlander is on the verge of beginning a rehab assignment in the coming days. He threw 52 pitches in a simulated game on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park, and a bullpen session is scheduled for him on Thursday. 

Assuming Verlander gets through both pain-free, he is set to make a rehab start on Sunday with Triple-A Sugar Land. While there hasn't been an exact timeline on the right-hander's return, Chandler Rome of The Athletic said that the veteran might need just two rehab starts before getting activated from the IL. That would mean the he could return on April 17 against the Atlanta Braves.

Justin Verlander is scheduled to start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Joe Espada said. He’ll throw a bullpen tomorrow at Minute Maid Park before beginning the rehab assignment. The Astros are optimistic Verlander will only need two starts at AAA before returning.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 3, 2024

Justin Verlander Fantasy Baseball Outlook

It appears that a return for Verlander is on the horizon, and if you took a chance on him in fantasy, you should be happy with his progression from that spring injury. He might be just two or three weeks away from helping fantasy managers win matchups again.

Verlander might not be the same fantasy pitcher he once was, but he can still contribute for managers. The veteran threw a quality start in 14 of his 27 outings in 2023 while limiting opposing hitters to a .228 average.

Justin Verlander will be starting for the Space Cowboys on Sunday.

GET YOUR TICKETS!!

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) April 3, 2024

If you have Verlander in your IL slot, keep him in there for the time being. However, if a fantasy manager becomes impatient and drops him, make sure to pick him up because a return should happen in the coming weeks.

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