The Mets’ bad luck persists. Just hours before their Opening Day game against the Miami Marlins, the team revealed that starting pitcher Justin Verlander has been placed on the injured list due to a “low grade teres major strain.”
The club’s statement added, “He will continue throwing at moderate intensity and we will rescan in a week. We will provide an update at that time.”
During the offseason, the Mets signed Verlander to a two-year, $86.67 million contract. The 40-year-old, who celebrated his birthday last month, has had a 17-year career with stints in Detroit and Houston.
Verlander won his third Cy Young Award last season by leading the Houston Astros to a World Series victory with an MLB-best 1.75 ERA.
After making just one start in 2020 and undergoing Tommy John surgery, he missed the entire 2021 season. Meanwhile, former Mets ace Jacob deGrom is set to make his regular-season debut for the Texas Rangers on Thursday, under a pitch count.